Beniamino Tonella was born in Crespano del Grappa (TV), Italy on the 21st of June 1976. Since the 2000s he has dedicated himself to violin making, as a student of Maestro Franco Simeoni, a renowned luther from Treviso. Over the years, he has studied and deepened his knowledge of both ancient and modern instruments, starting from the originals, and gradually acquiring the “secrets of the trade”. In 2010 he opened his own small workshop in Crespano del Grappa (TV), where, driven by tireless passion, he continues to refine his construction method creating classical quartet instruments (violins, violas, cellos) with the traditional Cremonese closed-box technique. The models from which he draws inspiration are varied, including Amati, Stradivari and Montagnana. The workmanship is carried out entirely by hand, following the principles of classical lutherie. He pays particular attention to the quality of the raw materials used. In addition to instrument making, he is also involved in restoration work, collaborating with other Cremonese luthiers and with Maestro Franco Simeoni, with whom he has developed a stable and long-standing synergy. He is a member of A.L.I. (Associazione Liutaria Italiana), with which takes part in major trade fairs such as MondoMusica in Cremona and exhibitions in Tokyo and Beijing. He participated in industry competitions such as “La Triennale di Cremona”, “Anlai”, and the “Concorso Internazionale Gianbattista Guadagnini” in which he won first prize with his cello in 2024.
Listen to an audio sample
