$11.25 Million Stradivarius Sells, Funding Student Scholarships

A rare and valuable Stradivarius violin, crafted in 1714 by renowned Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari, fetched an impressive $11.25 million at a Sotheby's auction on Friday. The auction attracted significant attention from investors, collectors, and classical musicians worldwide.

The Golden Era of Violin Making

This particular violin is considered a masterpiece from the "golden period" of violin making, renowned for its exceptional quality and craftsmanship. It later came into the possession of Joseph Joachim, a celebrated Hungarian-born violinist in the 19th century, known as a close associate of Johannes Brahms.

Supporting Musical Education

The Stradivarius was sold by the New England Conservatory, which has announced its intention to utilize the proceeds from the sale to establish an endowed student scholarship program. The instrument had previously belonged to Si-Hon Ma, an alumnus of the school who passed away in 2009.

Ma's estate donated the violin to the New England Conservatory in 2015 with a stipulation that it could be sold in the future to fund student scholarships. "Now we really have the chance to have it benefit so many more students — generations of students to come," expressed Andrea Kalyn, president of the conservatory.