violin

This violin is part of the “Jumpstart-Sparey Collection,” a collection of ten string instruments that was loaned to the Musical Instrument Fund in 2022. Although most of the ten instruments were built in the 17th and 18th centuries, they all have a modern setup. As a result, the instruments are not suitable for the young musicians of Jumpstart Jr., who are pursuing careers in historical performance practice. This is how the idea arose to include the instruments in the collection of the Musical Instrument Fund. Bas Treub is the lucky violinist who plays the Ruggeri.

British violinist Jonathan Sparey was a member of the English Fitz William String Quartet and had been collecting antique violins since the beginning of his career. His collection had grown substantial, and he lent nearly all of his instruments—for shorter or longer periods—to various violinists, both in England and abroad. In 2016, together with his wife Elizabeth, he decided to donate part of his collection to the Jumpstart Jr. Foundation. The Ruggeri is currently in the hands of Bas Treub.