Fifth String Fine Instruments

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Join us as we share stories and insights from the world of fine instruments.

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Maker Spotlight: Danuta Pawlikowska

Danuta Pawlikowska was born in Nowy Targ, Poland, and began her violin making education at the Secondary School of Fine Arts in Zakopane. In 1991 she continued her practical training in Kraków in the workshop of her uncle, Jan Pawlikowski.

Since 1995 she has run her own workshop in Kraków, building instruments on commission while also restoring and repairing bowed string instruments.

Pawlikowska builds violins based on models by Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesù, violas inspired by Stradivari, the Amati brothers, and Gasparo da Salò, and cellos based on Stradivari models. Her work is known for careful craftsmanship and a strong focus on tonal quality.

Her instruments have received recognition in numerous international competitions, including awards at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, the Henryk Wieniawski Violin Making Competition, and the Triennale in Cremona.

We are honored to present instruments by Danuta Pawlikowska at the Fifth String Showcase in Vienna.

📍 Himmelpfortgasse 12, 1010
📅 March 16–22, 2026

Maker Spotlight: Carlo Costantini

Born in Padua, Carlo Costantini moved to Cremona to pursue the art of violin making. He studied at the International School of Violin Making in Cremona, graduating in 2020 with a specialization in restoration after training in instrument construction, theory, and varnishing techniques.

During his final year of studies and after graduating, Costantini worked in several violin making workshops between Cremona and Brescia, gaining valuable practical experience and further refining his craftsmanship.

His work aims to combine refined craftsmanship with a strong cultural and technical understanding of musical instruments, drawing on traditional Cremonese methods while carefully studying historical models and materials.

Through continuous research and hands-on experience, he strives to further develop his work and create instruments of ever higher quality.

We are honored to present instruments by Carlo Costantini at the Fifth String Showcase in Vienna.

📍 Himmelpfortgasse 12, 1010
📅 March 16–22, 2026

Maker Spotlight: Michael Holzer

Michael Holzer, born in Vienna in 1986, has been building reconstructions of historical string instruments since 2010. His work focuses on instruments inspired by the great Cremonese masters, with particular attention to the 1743 Guarneri “del Gesù” Sauret model.

Holzer combines traditional craftsmanship with scientific research, studying the materials and techniques used in historical instrument making. His work places special emphasis on recreating the visual and acoustic qualities of Italian varnishes from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

During his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, he conducted research on historical varnish and pigment composition, working in collaboration with chemists to better understand and recreate historically documented materials.

Since 2021, he has also been responsible for the restoration of string instruments in the historic instrument collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.

We are honored to present instruments by Michael Holzer at the Fifth String Showcase in Vienna.

📍 Himmelpfortgasse 12, 1010
📅 March 16–22, 2026

Maker Spotlight: Martin Horvat

Martin Horvat’s development as a violin maker was shaped by several formative influences: a simple rural childhood, a strong musical education in his hometown of Vienna, and early encounters with the vibrant artistic culture of Italy.

From a young age he was drawn to the visual arts, music, and science. In violin making he discovered the ideal meeting point of these passions — a craft that combines craftsmanship, scientific understanding, tonal imagination, and artistic design.

Horvat completed his training at the International School of Violin Making in Cremona, where he has lived and worked for nearly three decades. Cremona, widely regarded as the world center of violin making, continues to shape his work through its historic tradition and ongoing dialogue with internationally renowned musicians.

At the heart of Horvat’s approach lies a deep understanding of each musician’s individual tonal preferences. His instruments are created through careful exploration of sound, playability, and the performer’s needs, aiming to unite artistic freedom with technical reliability.

Martin Horvat is a member of the Distretto Culturale di Cremona, maintaining a close connection to Cremona’s historic violin-making tradition.

We are honored to present instruments by Martin Horvat at the Fifth String Showcase in Vienna.

📍 Himmelpfortgasse 12, 1010
📅 March 16–22, 2026