In the early 1980's, Gaspar Borchardt moved from Germany to Cremona, where he graduated from the International Violin Making School.  He attributes his knowledge about violinmaking to friend and master luthier, Alessandro Crillovi.  Since 1990, Borchardt has lived and worked with his wife, luthier Sibylle Fehr-Borchardt in a centrally located workshop overlooking the Plazza Duomo, the main square of Cremona.  

     From his masters, Borchardt learned the “Sistema Cremonese," a traditional way of violinmaking used by Antonio Stradivari.  Using outlines, archings and varnish for specific acoustic functions, the luthier says he obtains surprising outcomes in his work.