Born in 1963, Giorgio Grisales cultivated his interest in music from an early age, studying at the music conservatoire and playing in several bands. In 1982 he moved to Cremona where he began his first approach to the art of violinmaking. In 1988 he graduated at the International School of Violonmaking in Cremona under the guidance of masters Giorgio Cè and Stefano Conia. In the same period he was issued a diploma in bowmaking after attending a course organized by the 'Regione Lombardia' where he studied with Giovanni Lucchi. His professional training was completed in 1990 when he graduated at the “Civic School of Violinmaking” in Milan where he studied musical instrument restoration with Gabriele Negri and Nadia Mantovani.
He lives and works in Cremona where his nephew Ricardo has joined him in the running of his workshop which is located in Via Sicardo 2/A, in the heart of the town, just around the corner of the suggestive Cathedral Square.
After over 24 years of activity, Grisales’ instruments are well known and appreciated all over the world, from Japan to the USA and also in Germany, England, France and, of course, Italy. G.Grisales' wide production ranges from violins to a fine selection of violas, cellos and doublebasses, always drawing inspiration from the great Italian masters of the past such as Ferdinando Garimberti, Giuseppe Ornati and the old “Cremonese School” (Stradivari, Amati and Guarneri del Gesù). His personal model draws inspiration from Giuseppe Ornati and Giuseppe Fiorini; for his instruments, he uses an oil-based varnish with a golden yellow ground and a final reddish brown colour.
He is also very active in the field of restoration and he actively develops his talent studying in particular the works of Ferdinando Garimberti and Giuseppe Ornati. His increasing interest for them led him to write two extensive monographs, one about Garimberti (published in 2006) and the other one about Ornati (forthcoming publication): they intend to illustrate and describe the lives and works of these two great masters of the Italian violinmaking.
In 2006 G. Grisales was awarded with the silver medal at the XI International Violinmaking Triennale Contest 'A. Stradivari', in the doublebass section.
Grisales ,Giorgio
