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Istvan Konya,
father of Stefano Conia il “Giovane” was born in
Hungary on January 10, 1946 and since the start his life was
not so easy. The child's health was seriously compromised, and
his very survival was endangered. |
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Istvan
with the violin built by his father
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His
determination and strength proved uncommon and with the help
of his loving mother he was finally able to defeat his illness.
The first years were very difficult also due to the absence
of his father, which had been arrested for political reasons
near the end of the Fifties. He, already a violin buider, tried
to be present nevertheless, and made a violin for his son. With
the help of some friendly guards, he succeeded at making his
gift. |
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This
was the way Stefano had his first approach to the instrument.
He started studying violin at age seven and his first teacher
was a Tzigano violinist from his town. Afterwards, with the
need to enhance his technical prowess, he got in touch with
more expert teachers like Tibor Domotor ( Professor in Budapest
Orchestra), or D° Maczai Gyulane with whom he finished up
his studies. |
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These
studies allowed him in 1964, at the age of only 18, to enter the Philarmonic
Ochestra of Tatabanya. After the secondary school he tried to enter
the medicine faculty, with no success. He tried and got however to obtain
a work in the surgery unit of his town's hospital. It was his surgeon
chief Miklos Szechy, noticing his remarkable manual capabilities, to
suggest him to follow his father's path, and to go to Cremona to learn
the difficult secrets of the lutherie art saying: “Many are the
surgeons, only one Stradivari”.
So Stefano, after his military service and with the necessary documents,
with five dollars in his pocket, a suitcase with a few tools and dresses
and a model Amati violin built under his father's guidance, arrived
to Cremona.
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During
his studies years he was distinguished for his serious work.
He obtained also a scholarship, which was insufficient for a
living. But he didn't give up and started doing small repair
works on locks and irons or built miniature violins he sold
to get some money. |
Instrument
miniatures
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Maestro
Stefano Conia with Maestro Giò Batta Morassi
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After
a single school year, noticing his hard work and great ability,
M° Giò Batta Morassi, one of the fathers of the
Cremona lutherie renaissance, offered him a place in his
workshop.
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This
was a great occasion and Stefano knew how to develop his work at best;
here he built the instrument that allowed him to win the the Gold Medal
at 1971 Cremona's Biennale, a success he still today considers one of
his most significant career's achievements.
Maestro
Stefano Conia with Maestro Sgarabotto
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it was
in June, 1972, studying with Maestri Sgarabotto, Morassi and
Bissolotti he received a degree from the Lutherie International
School and started his real professional career.
Very soon,
seen the excellent quality of his work, many international
musicians and resellers got interested in him and his instruments'
fame grew rapidly.
He took
part to many international contests, getting notable success
and acknowledgements.
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This way
, only few years after his arrival to Cremona, Stefano Conia's
name was widely acknowledged and his instruments' prices got
stable. Few years had passed since his degree when in 1976
he was called to teach in the very same school in which he
had studied. One can imagine the surprise and satisfaction
of Stefano and his father.
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With
the Scuola di Liuteria di Cremona delegation on official visit
in Mexico
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Teaching
was a passion and allowed him to transfer, during more than
twenty years, his invaluable knowledge to hundreds of students,
now qualified professionals. Among them obviously we have
to note his son, Stefano Conia 'Il Giovane'. At the same time
he was also in charge of the school museum, organizing shows
and guided tours.
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He
also made part in the delegations representing the Lutherie
School at various international expos ( China, Mexico, Egypt,
Germany, Poland, etc.)
Together
with M° Morassi he took part to the birth of the AIL (Associazione
Italiana Liutai), ed in 1990 he got membership into AEL (Associazione
Europea Maestri Liutai).
That same year he was put in charge of the restoration of the
Stradivarian harp, a very critical task he attended with incredible
attention and capability.
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Stradivarian Harp restoration
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A violin by Maestro Stefano Conia
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Since
more than thirty-five years, in his workshop at 95, Via Garibaldi
in the living heart of the old Cremona, Maestro Conia builds
magnificient instruments freely inspired by the past masterpiece
creators, and his research is more than ever directed towards
stylistic perfection.
Numerous
are the conferences held worldwide and the publications on professional
press like Strad Magazine. |
Maestro
Conia, who left from Hungary on dream's wings, is today one
of the world's most appreciated luthiers. His instruments
are valued by important auction houses like Sothebys, Philips,
Bongards, Christie's and, moreover, many have indeed been
copied. But this does't worry the Maestro, who says: "A
shape may be copied, but character and personality can't".
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Maestro Stefano Coniain his Cremona workshop
Stefano Conia 'Il Giovane" (Stefano Konya)
Stefano Conia (Istvan Konya)
Istvan Konya "Senior"
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