A fine contemporary German cello from the Rainer Leonhardt workshop in Mittenwald Germany.

Rainer Leonhardt (b. 1963) is the product of nearly one hundred years of family luthiers based in Germany’s legendary violin making town of Mittenwald. He is the current leader of the Leonhardt Workshop, which was founded by his grandfather, Anton Deitl, in 1926. Leonhardt studied at Mittenwald’s prestigious State Vocational School of Violin making. After graduating in 1982, he continued studying under Germany’s best luthiers, and he went on to earn a master’s certificate from the Munich Chamber of Crafts in 1990.

Leonhardt plays a vital role in keeping Mittenwald’s 350-year-old violin making tradition alive. He creates all of his instruments by hand, combining the best modern techniques with traditional craftsmanship and historical models from Italy and Germany. Leonhardt’s commitment to quality extends to his tonewood, which is carefully selected from Germany, Austria, Italy, and Bosnia. He prides himself on making instruments with performers in mind. Leonhardt serves as the manager of Mittenwald’s Museum of Violin making, and his violins have received awards from the French Violin Makers’ Association, Bavarian Chamber of Crafts, and European Association of Violin and Bow Makers.