Italian violinmaker, Lillo Salerno, was born in Sicily. Happily, for us, as a youth, Salerno viewed a documentary about Stradivari and that event sparked a lifetime curiosity in violinmaking and restoration. In 1998, he enrolled at the International School of Violin Making in Cremona where he studied until 2002. During this profound learning journey, Salerno made instruments highly representative of the traditional Cremonese school. Once graduating, Salerno began his education at the Violin Making School of Mittenwald and finished in 2005. With a vast knowledge of both the Italian school and the German school of violinmaking, Salerno uses this amassed knowledge to craft his fine instruments. Currently, Salerno runs his exceptional workshop in Pforzheim, Germany.

This viola has a balanced, broad, and gutsy sound. It has great resonance evenly across the four strings. This instrument would be great for an intermediate to advanced player or someone who wants to grow as their instrument does as well.