Violin Making Master Program (2025-2027)

Violin Making
Master Program

2025-2027

After the success of the first edition of our Violin Making Master Program, we are delighted to welcome the newly selected apprentice luthiers: Angelo Rapaccioli Morassi (Italy), Daichi Sakamoto (Italy-Japan), Soma Suzuki (Japan) and Qingyuan Wang (China).

Over the course of eighteen months, each of them will craft a full string quartet each (two violins, one viola and one cello), working under the guidance of three leading masters of the Cremonese violin-making tradition: Davide Sora (violins), Marcello Ive (violas) and Primo Pistoni (cellos).

For the set-up phase, they will be supervised by Robert Brewer Young (J&A Beare), while the varnish preparation and varnishing process will be taught by masters Curzio Merlo and Pierre Flavetta.

CALL

Violin Making
Master Program

2025-2027

The Casa Stradivari Foundation, in line with its mission to promote the great Cremonese violin-making tradition and support young artisan talents, is organizing – in collaboration with the Museo del Violino and the Municipality of Cremona, and in line with the UNESCO Safeguarding Plan of the Traditional Cremonese Violin Making Craftsmanship – the Violin Making Master Program 2025–2027, a high-level training course dedicated to the construction of string instruments of the classical quartet following the historical Cremonese method based on the internal mould.

The Course will run for a total duration of 18 months, starting on October 30, 2025.

Participants will be able to refine their instrument-making skills within a unique educational environment, closely integrated with the musical life of the Foundation, under the guidance of three internationally renowned master luthiers, each specialized in one instrument of the quartet (violin, viola, cello).

The training program pursues a dual objective:

to provide violin-making education of excellence, grounded in the direct transmission of traditional Cremonese construction techniques;
to develop acoustic and listening training, thanks to constant collaboration with the musician students of Casa Stradivari—who are themselves engaged in a parallel advanced music program—and with internationally acclaimed artists hosted in residence. The instruments built will be continuously played, tested, and refined, fostering an ongoing dialogue between luthiers and performers, which forms an integral part of the Foundation’s educational philosophy.

Participants will also have access to the direct study of historical instruments and artifacts from the Civic Violin-Making Collections preserved at the Museo del Violino, under the guidance of its Curator.

To complete the program, Casa Stradivari Foundation will undertake artistic initiatives and promotional activities dedicated to the instruments made by the participating luthiers.

Enhancement and Promotion of Luthiers and Their Instruments

One of the distinctive features of the Course is the active promotion of the participating luthiers and the instruments they create, through a comprehensive strategy coordinated by the Casa Stradivari Foundation.

In particular:

the instruments will be played by internationally renowned artists during events and concerts organized by the Foundation, ensuring them maximum visibility and prestige;
professional digital content (photos, videos, interviews, audio recordings) will be produced to document the training journey and highlight the work of each luthier;
all materials will be disseminated through the Foundation’s official digital channels (website, newsletter, social media) and shared within an international network of contacts in the music and cultural sectors.

In this way, the Course also serves as a concrete tool for professional promotion, facilitating market access and strengthening the international recognition of the violin-making talent nurtured at Casa Stradivari.

Art. 1 – Purpose

The Course will have a total duration of 18 months – starting on October 30, 2025 – and aims to:

deepen knowledge of the construction and acoustics of the classical quartet instruments (each participant will craft two violins, one viola, and one cello);
offer young luthiers the opportunity to work alongside three internationally renowned masters;
foster direct interaction with the musician students of the Casa Stradivari Foundation and with the Artists in Residence, who will test and perform on the instruments created throughout the duration of the Course;
promote Italian artisan excellence through specialized and interdisciplinary training.

Art. 2 – Eligibility

Applications may be submitted by:

young graduates of the International Violin Making School of Cremona or of any other recognized institution awarding a diploma in violin making;
young luthiers with other equivalent educational backgrounds.

Applicants must, in principle, be no older than 30 years of age at the application deadline.
Participation is open to both Italian and foreign citizens. An operational knowledge of either Italian or English is required.

Selected foreign applicants will be responsible for independently obtaining a residence permit and for completing all legal and administrative requirements necessary to reside lawfully in Cremona for the entire duration of the training program.

Art. 3 – Structure and Content of the Program

The Course will take place between October 2025 and June 2027, divided into three six-month cycles, each dedicated to the construction of one instrument of the classical string quartet:

Cycle 1 – Violins (two), led by M° Davide Sora
Cycle 2 – Viola, led by M° Marcello Ive
Cycle 3 – Cello, led by M° Primo Pistoni

Throughout the program, in-depth seminars will be offered with M° Robert Brewer Young (Director and Head of Scientific Research and Conservation at J&A Beare), who will conduct theoretical and practical sessions on aspects of the historical violin-making tradition, acoustics, and instrument set-up.

Selected students will also attend a specialized training module in chemistry of materials and varnishing, developed in collaboration with CRForma Cremona, under the guidance of Curzio Merlo; additional in-depth sessions with M° Pierre Flavetta.

Each cycle includes:

six hours per week of theoretical and practical lessons with the master in charge;
daily individual work at the benches of the Casa Stradivari atelier, with a mandatory minimum attendance of at least five hours per day, for at least six days per week, unless otherwise indicated by the Foundation;
joint sessions with the musician students of the Casa Stradivari Foundation and with the Artists in Residence.

Over the course of the program, each participant will build a complete string quartet - two violins, one viola, and one cello-using the historical Cremonese method based on the internal mould.

The instruments will be utilised in live performance within the musical projects promoted by the Foundation, thus contributing to the promotion of contemporary Cremonese violin making.

The calendar will include scheduled breaks during the summer and winter periods, in accordance with the organizational needs of the Foundation and the availability of the masters.

The Foundation will guarantee:

free access to all educational activities and to the atelier;
continuous tutoring by the master luthiers;
provision of the materials required for instrument making, including wood, fingerboards, fittings, and strings;
interaction with musician students and Artists in Residence;
issuance of a final certificate of participation, subject to regular attendance and completion of the training program.

Participants must provide their own personal tools for workshop activities.

Art. 4 – Ownership of the Instruments Produced

The string instruments built by the participants during the Course shall remain the property of the Casa Stradivari Foundation.

They will be used exclusively for institutional, educational, and promotional purposes related to Cremonese violin making and to the participating luthiers, including public performances, exhibitions, recordings, communication activities, and cultural initiatives promoted by the Foundation or by partner institutions.

Participants will always be acknowledged as the makers of the instruments created within the framework of the Course.

All instruments built during the Course will bear an internal label and an identifying stamp of the Casa Stradivari Foundation, affixed in agreement with the master in charge and including the name of the maker.

These elements constitute a mark of authenticity of the training program and certify the origin of the instruments being within the Foundation’s educational project.

The instruments may be granted on free loan to professional musicians or advanced students for a defined period, under a dedicated agreement, for the purpose of promoting both the makers and Cremonese violin making.

Art. 5 – Relationship with Musicians

Participants will have the opportunity to:

collaborate with the musician students of Casa Stradivari, who will test and evaluate the instruments during their construction;
interact with internationally renowned Artists in Residence, who will play the completed instruments and provide acoustic feedback;
take part in public outreach activities, concerts, or events open to the public organized by the Foundation.

Art. 6 – Venue of Activities

All activities will take place at the headquarters of the Casa Stradivari Foundation, located at Corso Garibaldi 55–57, Cremona, with the exception of the specialized training module in chemistry of materials and varnishing, which will also be held at the Diagnostics Laboratory of CrForma, housed in Palazzo Fodri; and the study of historical instruments and artifacts from the Civic Violin-Making Collections, which will take place at the Museo del Violino.

Art. 7 – Financial Conditions

Attendance to the Course is free of charge.

However, applicants are required to pay, at the time of submitting their application, a mandatory and non-refundable administrative fee of €50 via bank transfer to the following account:

Account Holder: Fondazione Casa Stradivari ETS, Corso Garibaldi 57, 26100 Cremona, Italy
IBAN: IT35V0569611400000011088X65
BIC/SWIFT: POSOIT22XXX
ABI: 05696
CAB: 11400
Payment Reference: Full Name - Application Fee - Violin Making Master Program 2025-2027

Payment of this fee is a necessary condition for the validity of the application. It has an administrative value and covers the organizational costs related to the selection process.

Art. 8 – Application Procedure

The maximum number of participants admitted is four apprentice luthiers. However, the Foundation reserves the right to select a smaller number of candidates if, following the evaluation process, no profiles emerge that meet the high qualitative and educational standards required.

The Course is intended for luthiers who already have formal training, solid technical skills, and a vision consistent with the philosophy of Casa Stradivari, which places constant dialogue between luthiers and musicians at the very centre of the educational and creative process. Continuous interaction with world-class performers is not an accessory element, but rather an essential pillar of the proposed method. Only candidates who fully share this approach may be admitted to the program.

Applications must be submitted by 30 September 2025 to the following address: bando@casastradivari.org.

Applications must include:

an updated curriculum vitae;
proof of payment of the application fee.

The selection procedure will take place in two phases:

Phase One - Evaluation of the curriculum vitae and submitted documentation;
Phase Two - Technical and qualitative assessment of one or more instruments built (or in progress) by the candidate, through an in-person interview at the Casa Stradivari Foundation, aimed at verifying the candidate’s construction skills and artisanal approach. The dates of the interviews will be communicated to candidates by 16 October 2025.

The Foundation reserves the right to exclude from the selection process any candidates who submit works that are not original or that were made by third parties, even in part, or who are unable to demonstrate authorship and independent craftsmanship.

Art. 9 – Obligations of Participants

Selected participants undertake to:

attend all scheduled activities on a regular basis;
comply with the academic calendar and established deadlines;
maintain a professional and collaborative attitude;
support the Foundation’s initiatives and make themselves available for interviews and media appearances;
authorize the Foundation to use images, videos, and documentation of the activities and works produced for institutional communication purposes.

In the event of serious misconduct detrimental to the working environment, the reputation of the Foundation, other participants, or faculty members, or in the case of repeated and unjustified absences, the Foundation reserves the right to exclude the participant from the Course with immediate effect, without reimbursement and without issuance of the final certificate.

Participants are required to treat the instruments, equipment, and spaces provided by the Foundation with due care. In the case of deliberate damage or improper use, they shall be held liable for compensation, in accordance with applicable regulations.

It is strictly forbidden to remove materials and instruments produced during the Course from the premises of the Casa Stradivari Foundation at Corso Garibaldi 57, except with the authorization of the Artistic Director.

Within the premises of the Casa Stradivari Foundation, apprentice luthiers may not produce any materials or instruments not intended for the Course program, except with the authorization of the Artistic Director.

Art. 10 – Penalty for Early Withdrawal

Selected participants commit to attending the entire training program until its completion, except in cases of documented force majeure.

In the event of voluntary and unjustified interruption, or withdrawal for reasons not attributable to force majeure, prior to the scheduled conclusion of the Course, the participant shall be required to pay the Casa Stradivari Foundation a penalty of €3,000, as partial reimbursement of the expenses incurred.

In the case of withdrawal before the start of the Course or within the first three months, the Foundation reserves the right to select a substitute participant from among the eligible but not admitted candidates.

Participation in the selection process and acceptance of a place imply explicit acceptance of this clause.

Art. 11 – Privacy

The personal data provided by applicants will be processed in compliance with EU Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR) and used exclusively for purposes related to the selection process and the management of the training program.

Participants authorize the Foundation to use their image and any audio/video recordings of the activities carried out, as well as photographs and recordings of the instruments produced, for documentation, promotional, and institutional communication purposes, including through print, web, and social media, without temporal or territorial limitations.

Art. 12 – Final Provisions

The Foundation reserves the right to amend these regulations for organizational reasons or in cases of force majeure, providing timely communication to the parties concerned.
Submission of the application implies full acceptance of these regulations.

For any disputes, the Court of Cremona shall have jurisdiction. These regulations are governed by the applicable laws of Italy.