Mattia Riva violinmaker
Fine Italian violins, violas and cellos
Since 1996 I have been involved in violin making and specifically in the construction and restoration of classical quartet string instruments, violins, violas and cellos.
I graduated as a Violin Maker and Restorer at the Civic School of Violin Making in Milan, under the guidance of Maestro Luca Primon.
After graduating, I collaborated with Maestro Marco Piccinotti and subsequently with Maestro Gabriele Negri, with whom I also share a passion for 20th-century Milanese violin making.
Between 2000 and 2005 I perfected my training by participating in numerous refresher courses, especially regarding restoration, with Masters Carlos Arcieri and Gabriele Negri at the Perosi Academy in Biella.
Subsequently, I deepened my study of other disciplines such as varnishing with Maestro Gregg Alf in Parma, bow repair and cracking with Maestro Pietro Cavallazzi in Milan, acoustic tuning with Maestro Carlos Arcieri in Biella, and the most modern relief techniques on historical instruments with RTV resins with Maestro Sharon Que in Parma.
Since 2005 I have been tooking part in competitions and exhibitions in Cremona, Frankfurt, Moscow, Mittenwald, Poznan, Paris, Shanghai and Tokyo, consolidating international partnerships.
In 2010 I won the gold medal (first price - cello) at the 4th national competition ANLAI professional, Pisogne – Italy.
In 2011 I won the gold medal (first price - violin copies) at the 2nd international competition ANLAI professional, Pisogne – Italy.
Since 2017 I have been working as a teacher at the International Violin Making School of Milan.
I live and work in Varese.
My work - The Milanese School
Art and style of a great tradition
My personal production is limited to a few pieces per year, made with extreme skill and care and paying particular attention to the choice of materials and models.
When choosing styles and aesthetics I am inspired by the great Italian violin makers like Stradivari, Guarneri and Amati but particularly by the modern Milanese lutherie school, so by perpetuating its characteristics while following my teachers' imprint.
Makers like Giuseppe Ornati, Ferdinando Garimberti, Leandro Bisiach and Riccardo Antoniazzi are often my preferred reference in style, during violin making... Instruments
Restoration & service
Esperience and competence at the service of musicians
Apart from our violin making activity, the workshop offers restoration and repair services for violins, violas and cellos, acoustic set-up, bow rehairing, and small size instruments rental.
A wide range of ancient 19th Century French and German violins, with rigorously selected quality and proportions, is always available and suitable to intermediate and avanced students.
We also purchase and sell Italian violins, violas and cellos and offer a consultancy and account sale service.