The Virtu Foundation has received, by donation, a fine 18th century cello by celebrated Parisian maker Andrea Castagneri. His instruments have commanded lofty values at auction. The challenge is that this rare instrument needs $8,000 in restoration work to allow it again produce the glorious sounds that has caused unknown generations to care for and cherish it. It will then go, by Scholarship loan, into hands of a talented young musician in need of a better instrument.
Many talented young musicians play on instruments that severely limit their growth. The balance between funding their musical education and affording a good instrument is the problem. The Virtu Foundation provides high quality instruments by loan to advanced students whose careers would benefit from having a better instrument. Virtu has received, by donation, a rare very old cello, that needs restoration before it can be loaned to a talented musician.
The Castagneri cello is in need of restoration to bring back the fine sound the instrument is capable of producing. This includes repairing numerous cracks, redoing the pegbox and changing the angle of the neck to accommodate modern playing techniques. The instrument has been placed in the hands of a master luthier who has commenced the restoration. The work will cost $8.000.
The restored cello would again produce the glorious sound, that has caused unknown generations to care for and cherish it. It would go - by Scholarship loan - into the hands of aspiring young musicians who would benefit from having access to a quality instrument which they can not now afford. This is a timeless investment. A well cared for fine instrument can enhance the careers of many young students for decades to come.
