Like other important Italian cities, Parma has many witnesses of its rich past during which it was the ambitious capital of a small state.  The architecture of its squares and buildings, in addition to its art collections and its contribution to culture represent evidence of this role, in the same way in which the violin-making tradition in Emilia and Milan is still recognizable in the work of today’s violin-makers. Naturally all this is the result of the rich musical life of the city: from the instrumental tradition of the 18. century, subsequently resulting in the virtuosity of Niccolò Paganini who studied and lived in Parma for long periods, until the explosion of the Opera theatre in the 19. century, characterized by Giuseppe Verdi. Also today, thanks to the Teatro Regio, to the new Auditorium N. Paganini designed by Renzo Piano, the Farnese Theatre, the House of Music, Parma boasts a very intense musical life and gives hospitality to some of the most important soloists and international orchestras.  Besides it is the seat of important musical institutions, such as the Foundation Arturo Toscanini, the Arrigo Boito Conservatory, the Teatro Regio orchestra and numerous other associations. This environment has for sure exercised a great attraction on  the violin-making world , as in the case of its most important artists who lived and worked in Parma, that is Giovanni Battista Guadagnini and Gaetano Sgarabotto, both attracted to our town by its cultural and professional opportunities. It should not be us to say so, but we feel we may state that the historical role of Renato Scrollavezza will be recognized in the same way as that of his great predecessors of the 18. century and the beginning of the past century.  This not only for the quality of his work, already numbered among the most appreciated of the second half of the nineteenth century, but also for his commitment as a teacher carried out with passion and determination despite a thousand difficulties.  Renato will be remembered not only as a great violin-maker, but as the founder of a School which has produced some of the best professionals working in the world. Through our work, in the teaching field as well, we hope to be able to collect this inheritance which we respect and intend to preserve.