Who is Richard Gagliardi?
Richard Gagliardi has been a violinist since the age of eight. Indulging his love of the violin, he studied violin making with Paul Hart at the Violin Making School of America in Salt Lake
City, Utah. It is there that he learned the art of violin, viola
and cello making as well as tonal appreciation, varnish making, instrument repairs, restorations and the fine art of re-touching.
After graduating in 1980, Mr. Gagliardi apprenticed for six
years under the esteemed Vahakn Nigogosian and Carlos
Arcieri in NYC where he had the opportunity to repair and
restore many fine instruments made by many great
16th to 19th century makers.
Vahakn Nigogosian and Carlos Arceri were both
employed at Wurlitzer’s in New York apprenticing
under the famous Simon Sacconi.
"Should be save."
In 1986, Mr. Gagliardi opened his own luthier shop in Northern New Jersey and has since become the area's foremost artist in the maintenance, restoration and conservation of violins, violas and cellos. He is entrusted with the personal care of instruments belonging to collectors, soloists, teachers, students and dealers and has repaired and restored fine instruments for Christie's auction house in NYC.
During his 14 year collaboration with Christie’s auction house, Mr. Gagliardi has had the opportunity to perform repairs, restorations and set up work on fine instrument makers such as the below short list as well as many other great instrument makers.
Amati
Albani
Antoniazzi
Audinot
Bisiach
Becker
Balestrieri
Cappa
Chanos
Ceruti
Derazey
Farotto
Fangola
Gagliano
Guarneri del gesu
Goffriller
Guidante
Guadagini
Gadda
Hill
Kennedy
Lupo
Landolphi
Maucotel
Maggini
Oddone
Pressenda
Postiglione
Praga
Pistucchi
Rocca
Ruggeri
Scrampella
Stainer
Stradivarius *
Storini
Testore
Vuillaume
*Special Christie’s auction sale note:
In 2006 after Mr. Gagliardi completed the needed work on the 1707 Hammer Stradivarius, the violin went on to smash the record amount paid for a musical instrument at auction with the original estimate of $1.5 - $2.5 million and selling for $3.54 million.
Many other instruments that Mr. Gagliardi had worked on for Christie’s
also sold for world record pricing at that time of the auction sale date.
Mr. Gagliardi is highly regarded as a true artisan, passionate about the integrity of the instrument and developing its highest tonal potential. It is these qualities that have earned him the respect of fellow luthiers and musicians.
Mr. Gagliardi is a member of the Violin Society of America and a long-time supporter of the American String Teachers Association.
