How did it begin?

The best Croatian violin maker, master craftsman Slavko Domitrović was born on June 30th 1937 at Petrovac, near Sisak, where he completed his secondary music school (violin).

He showed interest in violin making in his youth, so during higher music education he already played on the violin made by himself.

At the Music Academy

Master Craftsman Domitrović studied a violin at Zagreb Music Academy. During his studies he had opportunity to visit violinmakers, Ivan Hus, Franjo Šnajder and Rudolf Sloković.

He graduated in 1975, in the class of professor Branko Košir, who still plays on his violin.

Professor Stahuljak noticed Slavko's talent for violin making and helped him to go to Freiburg, Germany, for further studies.

Schooling in Germany

In Freiburg, Germany, in the Workshop of the master craftsman Hans Shicker, Slavko restored and repaired instruments of old, classic schools (Amati, Stradivari, Guarneri, Steiner).

He learnt the secrets of old violin making, and using that experience and knowledge, he made first Domitović violins and sold them in Germany.

Return of the master craftsman

Enriched with new knowledge and skills, master craftsman Domitrovic came back to Zagreb in 1983, where he worked as a teacher of violin making at Music School Pavao Markovac and started Workshop for Musical Instruments Making and Restoring.

In 2001, at the competition in Musical Instruments Making 'Jacob Steiner', he won Certificates in three categories, for each of his three instruments: (1) (2) (3).

Today, master craftsman Domitrović lives at the shores of river Kupa, makes and repairs instruments in the quietness of his home.

How to make a violin?

Domitrović's violins are entirely handmade, because, as he says, 'A machine doesn't have a soul.' To make one instrument, 150 hours of patient work is necessary.

'To be a good instrument maker, one needs to have a good feeling and a good hearing. I can recognize quality of the future instrument even by holding a piece of wood in my hands. The best wood is Bosnian maple, and for the front part (sound board), I use spruce.'

He makes his own varnish, based on recipes of old masters, using different natural resins and essential oils.

Violins with a perfect sound

Master Craftsman Domitrović makes violins after three different models: Stradivarius, Guarneri, and his own model, which he designed according to his studies of classic schools.

Beside violins, he makes and restores other stringed instruments: violas, cellos and double basses.

Violinists

Master Craftsman Domitrović has made more than 250 violins and other stringed instruments. His violins have found a home all around the world: in Wiena, Germany, Spain, US. Both students and virtuosi play on them.

In the beginning of 2005, at the International violin competition 'Vaclav Huml', in Zagreb, the winner gets a Domitrović violin, as a special prize!

Goran Končar

First violin of Zagreb quartet. Music education and perfection of playing he achieved at different European Music Academies. He plays at numerous concerts and tours, as a chamber and solo player.

'Violins made by Slavko Domitrovic are pretty and welldone, characterized by rich sound and light articulation with all four strings.'

Zlatko Stahuljak

Violist, professor at Music Academy in Zagreb, and justiciary connoisseur for stringed instruments.

'Slavko Domitrović is one of the best violin makers in the Central and Southeastern Europe.'

Tonko Ninić

Concert master and art director of Zagrebački Solisti. He played with them all around the world, at more than 2500 concerts.

Contact

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