New England Conservatory's Stradivarius violin sells for $11.3 million

A violin made in 1714 sold Friday for $11.3 million in an auction that lasted under half an hour. Master luthier Antonio Stradivari crafted the instrument in Cremona, Italy during his so-called golden period from 1700 to 1720.

This is one of the highest prices ever fetched for a musical instrument, according to Sotheby’s, which conducted the auction. The seller of the Joachim-Ma Stradivarius, New England Conservatory, will use this money to establish the largest student scholarship fund in NEC’s history.

The identity of the violin’s buyer has not been released. Sotheby’s originally placed the estimated value of the violin at $12 million to $18 million. Bidding for the violin halted at $10 million and the final price includes the fees paid to Sotheby’s.

“ This is a singular instrument for sure,” said Andrea Kalyn, president of the conservatory. “It's been a privilege for NEC to have it. Its impact on the few students who've played it has been incredible.”

But now the institution has the chance to impact many more students with an endowed scholarship.

“I think it builds on the legacy of the instrument,” she said. “It's wonderful to have a historic instrument that really gets to create the future. It will be transformational for those students.”
The three-century-old instrument has a long lineage.

The estate of NEC alumnus Si-Hon Ma donated the instrument in 2016. Ma purchased the violin in 1967 and performed on it until his death in 2009. The Stradivarius is described as having a rich red brown color over an amber gold ground.

The instrument previously belonged to Hungarian virtuoso Joseph Joachim, and was one of ten Stradivari violins he owned during his lifetime, according to the New England Conservatory website. It’s most likely the instrument on which he premiered Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77 in 1879, conducted by the composer himself. Joachim purchased the violin in 1849 at age 18.

“This extraordinary violin represents the pinnacle of craftsmanship and classical music history, its unparalleled sound and storied provenance captivating collectors and musicians alike,” said Mari-Claudia Jimenez, Sotheby's Americas president and head of global business. “The Joachim-Ma Stradivarius garnered global attention, achieving one of the highest prices ever for a musical instrument — an acknowledgment of its rarity and historical importance. It has been a true privilege to be entrusted with this masterpiece of sound, and we are honored to have played a role in its remarkable journey."