Cremona, Italy · Est. 1938
Five-year state diploma in the birthplace of Stradivari.
Master luthiers as teachers. Students from 40+ countries.
Since 1938, our workshops have trained luthiers who go on to work in concert halls, museums, and ateliers across the world. Labs hold 10–12 students. Masters teach by doing.
Every student builds a real instrument from scratch. Wood selection, arching, graduation, varnish — each step learned under the guidance of practicing professionals.
150+ independent luthiers work within walking distance. The Museo del Violino is five minutes away. Cremona is not a setting — it is the curriculum.
World's greatest collection of historical instruments, minutes away.
Your professional network starts before graduation.
Italian Maturità, accepted by universities and workshops worldwide.
Build violins, violas, cellos and double basses from scratch, following methods passed down since the time of Stradivari.
Learn more →Guitars, mandolins, lutes — the full vocabulary of plucked instrument making, from historical models to contemporary production.
Learn more →Restoration and conservation. A discipline as demanding as making, opening doors to museums and collections worldwide.
Learn more →The school welcomes high school-age students and adult learners — Italian and foreign — who already hold a diploma. Non-EU candidates follow a dedicated path.
Via iscrizioni.istruzione.it (Italian students) or our dedicated form for non-EU candidates.
ID, certified degree copies with full subject lists and grades, Europass CV. Portfolio of prior work welcome.
Admission requires skill evaluation. Prior experience in lutherie may count as credits.
Labs from day one. Fifth-year students complete a mandatory internship in a professional luthier's workshop.
Open Days are the best way to visit our workshops and meet the masters before applying.
Book an Open Day Admission exam infoOpen Days · Oct 18 · Nov 22 · Dec 13, 2025