Hi, I am Ilaria Cazzaniga and I work as a violin maker and restorer in Milan!

I graduated with honors from the Civica Scuola di Liuteria di Milano, specializing in the restoration of bowed string instruments such as violins, violas, and cellos. Alongside my training in violin making, I also hold a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and a Master’s degree in Conservation and Diagnostics for Cultural Heritage.

Working with wood to give shape to sound has always been my passion, evolving over the years alongside a strong curiosity for scientific research in the field of musical instruments—where craftsmanship and science meet.

Workshop and Services

I run my workshop in a quaint courtyard in Milan, where I work alongside other young violin makers as part of the LiutaiLab project.
Here, I offer maintenance, repair, and restoration services, with a particular focus on instrument setup and tonal adjustment for violins, violas, and cellos.

Collaborations and Teaching

Since 2019, I have been collaborating with Carlo Chiesa, with whom I completed a training internship immediately after graduation. We now work together on projects related to the study and preservation of historical stringed instruments.

In 2019, I also attended a specialized restoration course led by Maestro Carlos Arcieri.

From 2020 to 2022, I taught chemistry and material science for violin making at the Civica Scuola di Liuteria di Milano, and instrument construction at the Accademia di Liuteria Piemontese San Filippo in Turin.

Between 2022 and 2024, I collaborated with Tarisio Auction House in Berlin, where I was involved in instrument preparation and catalog preparation for international auctions.

Specialization in Setup

I have developed a strong specialization in the setup and tonal optimization of quartet instruments. This expertise has been refined through my ongoing collaboration with Carlson & Neumann, a renowned restoration workshop based in Cremona, internationally recognized for its work on historical instruments.