Master Luthier Mathijs A. Heyligers

Curriculum Vitae

Mathijs Adriaan Heyligers, born in Holland, moves to Italy in 1975 where he studies violinmaking in Cremona under Giorgio Cè. In 1977 he starts the violinmaking school in Parma where he becomes in 1980 his diploma of master violinmaker under Renato Scrollavezza and Pietro Sgarabotto. He studies violin at the conservatory of music in Parma with the Finish violinist Satu Jalas, granddaughter of Jean Sibelius. He specialises in restoration under Gimpel Solomon and Bruce Carlson, technology of varnish with Geary Baese, Joe Robson and Raymond Schryer.

This combination of technical knowledge and practical experience enables him to have a profound understanding of the needs of every musician. Each of his instruments is made on specific request, based on models of the most important makers of the past, with the use of the antique methods of the traditional art of Cremonese violinmaking. His instruments are played by concert-artists around the world and are regularly used for important CD recordings. Famous international musicians such as Itzak Perlman, Ruggero Ricci, Shlomo Mintz, Viktoria Mullova and Misha Maisky have recognised and praised the quality of this work.

Heyligers has received important prizes in international violinmaking competitions such as Salt Lake City (USA 1982), Kassel (Germany 1983) and Cremona. His instruments have been shown on exhibitions all around the world. He has collaborated on numerous musical projects, publications, radio and television programs. He has given numerous conferences on various arguments of the art and history of violinmaking and was professor at the first Master-course of Baroque Violinmaking in Cremona.