Tetsuo Matsuda Viola, 2017 Barrington, Illinois USA

Maker: Tetsuo Matsuda Year 2017 Description: This particular viola by Matsuda has a rich, warm and powerful tone. Suitable for all levels of players. Tetsuo Matsuda was born in a village in Akita, Japan in 1945. In 1977 he moved to Italy and enrolled in a violin making school in Cremona. Matsuda was an extremely dedicated student. He conducted research on every aspect of violin construction and experimented with various techniques of old masters and contemporary makers. His work improved quickly. Mastuda won a fifth place award at the Wieniawski Competition in 1981 and second place at the Cremona Competition in 1982. After his graduation, Matsuda moved to Chicago to work at a violin shop where he had some connections. Inspired by the vibrant music scene in Chicago, Matsuda synthesized his knowledge of Italian violin making with the techniques of modern American makers. He won a gold medal from the Violin Society of America in 1984. In 1993, he established his own shop in Chicago. Today, Matsuda is a master luthier. He has presented his work internationally to great acclaim. This viola is in excellent condition. Back Length: 16 1/2” (42.2 cm.) String Length: 14 7/8” (37.8 cm.) Private Collection of Hoffmann Strings January1, 2025  Call or email for details.