SZABÓ István

Born in 1966 in former Yugoslavia, I began my journey in music playing the violin and later the viola. Though I initially attended university, my passion led me to pursue violin making full-time. My training started with my former violin teacher, and in the early 1990s, I apprenticed under master luthier Lendjel Laslo (Lengyel László) in Paris.

For over 20 years, I lived and worked across Asia—Taiwan, Singapore, and Indonesia—where I provided sound adjustment services to professional players, adapting instruments to the unique conditions of Southeast Asia. Inspired by the old-school players, I’ve developed a style that emphasizes rich sound projection, and I enjoy working with musicians to fine-tune instruments to match their personal preferences.

My new instrument builds are rooted in the traditions of Italian masters from the golden period. Over the past few decades, I’ve dedicated myself to perfecting varnish techniques that reflect the time-worn beauty of historic Italian violins. Currently, I’m based in France, working from Fraisnes-en-Saintois after several years in Mirecourt.