History of Florian Leonhard
Their story began in 1982, when Florian first entered the violin-making school in Mittenwald, Germany. Officially established in 1995, Florian Leonhard Fine Violins quickly grew to become a remarkable global success, with their instruments being chosen by renowned maestros such as Vesko Eschkenazy, Maxim Vengerov, and many others.
In 2008, the company became a long-term supporter of the Menuhin Competition, sponsoring the Junior First Prize with a monetary award combined with the loan of a fine old Italian violin. Since then, the workshop has continued to grow internationally, collaborating with an ever-expanding circle of talented and celebrated musicians and orchestras.
We are proud to have Florian Leonhard as one of the Official Sponsors of the 'Classic Cello' International Competition, with them generously offering one of the Special Prizes: the Florian Leonhard Fellowship Prize.
The rich tapestry of talented clients who make up our fellowship are what FLFV is all about: our service to musicians, and therefore music, is the reason we’re here, and we take pride in working in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. This perfectly captures the ethos of our extended family. The intention came first and, as we look back 25 years later, we see what has emerged from our dedicated support for musicians around the world. At FLFV we’ve prioritised supporting talented players, musical charities, and festivals for over 25 years.
One of the finalists of Classic Cello 2026 will be awarded a prestigious two-year loan of a fine old Italian cello, generously provided by the Florian Leonhard Fellowship (London). The recipient will be invited to the FLFV-London workshop, where the instrument will be expertly set up and adjusted to meet their individual playing style and preferences.