About
Marco Osio was born in Manerbio, near Brescia, Italy, on 22 December 1976.
In 1990, he enrolled at the International School of Violin Making in Cremona, graduating in 1994 under the guidance of Maestro Giorgio Scolari. He later met Gio Batta Morassi, one of the leading figures of contemporary Cremonese violin making, and his son Simeone Morassi, becoming their pupil. Under their guidance, Marco refined both his construction technique and his understanding of the style and character of bowed string instruments.
Today, Marco makes violins, violas and cellos in his workshop in Cremona, drawing inspiration from the great classical Cremonese makers, including Stradivari, Amati and Guarneri. For some of his violins, he also uses a 1929 Ornati model.
He works exclusively with carefully selected, well-seasoned tonewoods and uses both spirit and oil varnishes in warm orange-brown tones over a golden ground. These varnishes are the result of years of personal research, developed to achieve a balance between visual character, durability and acoustic response.
Awards & Recognition
Marco Osio has taken part successfully in numerous national and international violin-making competitions, receiving prizes, special awards and honourable mentions for violins, violas and cellos.
1999 — Third Prize with a cello at the National Violin Making Competition in Baveno, Italy.
2001 — First Prize with a violin and Second Prize with a viola at the National Violin Making Competition in Baveno, Italy.
2001 — Finalist with a violin at the International Wieniawski Violin Making Competition in Poznań, Poland.
2002 — Third Prize and a Special Prize with a viola at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Russia.
2003 — Honourable Mention with a viola at the International Triennale Violin Making Competition in Cremona, Italy.
2004 — Fourth Prize and the Crystal Cup for the best violin maker under 30, with a violin, at the International Metelka Violin Making Competition in Náchod, Czech Republic.
2005 — Fourth Prize and a Special Prize with a viola at the International Violin Making Competition in Mittenwald, Germany.
2006 — Finalist with a violin at the International Arvenzis Violin Making Competition in Dolný Kubín, Slovakia.
2006 — Honourable Mention with a viola at the International Triennale Violin Making Competition in Cremona, Italy.
2007 — Second Prize and a Special Prize for the best instrument from a technical and artistic point of view, with a viola, at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Russia.
2008 — Third Prize with a violin at the International Metelka Violin Making Competition in Náchod, Czech Republic.
2009 — Second Prize with a viola at the European Eufonia Competition.
2011 — First Prize and a Special Prize for best workmanship with a violin at the International Arvenzis Violin Making Competition in Dolný Kubín, Slovakia.
2012 — Fourth Prize and a Special Prize for the instrument best expressing the personality and style of the classical Italian tradition, with a viola, at the International Triennale Violin Making Competition in Cremona, Italy.
2017 — First Prize and Gold Medal with a viola at the Malta International Violin Making Competition.
2021 — Honourable Mention with a viola at the International Triennale Violin Making Competition in Cremona, Italy.
Teaching, Jury Work & Professional Activity
During the 2012–2013 and 2014–2015 academic years, Marco taught alongside Maestro Luca Primon in an advanced course in Cremona dedicated to the construction and acoustic adjustment of bowed string instruments.
In 2013 and 2018, he served as a jury member at the International Arvenzis Violin Making Competition in Dolný Kubín, Slovakia.
Marco is a member of the Italian Violin Makers Association (A.L.I.). His instruments are played by musicians around the world, with a particularly strong presence in China, Japan, Taiwan and the United States.