Josef Kantuscher

He was born in 1923 in the small town of Okraj Ljutomer, Slovenia.

He began studying violin at music school at the age of six, and was immediately captivated, building his first instrument at age 14.

After graduating from high school in 1941, he aspired to study architecture, but gave up as the war intensified.

However, he was fortunate enough to escape forced labor in the German Empire and enrolled in a violin-making school in Mittenwald.

After being drafted during the war, he returned to Mittenwald in 1945.

After working for about ten years at the Reiter Violin Shop, he opened his own shop in Mittenwald in 1955.

In 1957, the company won a gold medal at a competition held in Liège, Belgium, which marked its rapid growth on the global stage.

Cantusa made 846 string instruments in his lifetime, and after he became independent he began to number the instruments he made, with viola #695, which he made in 2013 at the age of 90, being his last instrument.

His instrument-making techniques, structural approach, and style, which has resulted from his continued research into the best combination of appearance and tone, are one of a kind.

His achievements brought Mittenwald back to the world's attention, and he was dubbed "the second coming of Matthias Klotz," and he went on to serve as director of the Mittenwald Violin Museum, among other positions.

It is also well known that many makers from Japan have trained under Mr. Cantusa and become masters.

He died in Mittenwald on October 6, 2015 (aged 91).

Quoted from "The Brompton's Book of Violin and Bow Makers," "The Strad Magazine," and "Famous Violins"