The initiative supports both both the art of master luthiers and the needs of young string players in search of high quality instruments

Master Luthier_Ulrike Dederer

Violin maker Ulrike Dederer, one of the first master luthiers to join The String Circle, in her Zurich workshop

A new international initiative, The String Circle, has launched in Cremona, with the aim of creating a dialogue of mutual support between a network of international master luthiers and promising young string players, promoting the professional and artistic growth of both.

The initiative was born from the desire to enhance the art of the master luthier by focusing on a specific audience and, on the other hand, the need for young string players to have access to high-quality instruments at the start of their careers. 

The project originates from an idea of Le Dimore del Quartetto, the international network that supports 90 young string quartets and chamber music groups at the beginning of their careers, and is promoted in collaboration with Fondazione Museo del Violino Antonio Stradivari, responsible for identifying and supporting the most talented artisan luthiers. 

Eleven luthiers have been selected to provide one or more instruments on loan and a range of maintenance and repair services to a cohort of young string players from the Le Dimore del Quartetto network. 

The first eleven master luthiers and bow-makers to join The String Circle are Luca Baratto (Cremona, Italy), Michele Buccellè (Acquanegra Cremonese, CR, Italy), Stefano Conia (Cremona, Italy), Ulrike Dederer (Zurich, Switzerland), Mira Gruszow e Gideon Baumblatt (Werder, Germany), Gawang Jung (Cremona, Italy), Marco Nolli (Cremona, Italy), Emilio e Luca Slaviero (Cremona, Italy) and Stefano Trabucchi (Cremona, Italy).  

The String Circle’s inaugural conference was held at the Museo del Violino in Cremona on 6 April and ended with a performance of Beethoven and Shostakovich by Quartetto Goldberg, a young ensemble supported by Le Dimore del Quartetto.