A resident of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Michael J. “Mike” Antonello is an accomplished professional concert violinist who has recorded 18 critically acclaimed albums. A collector of fine art, Michael Antonello owns two of the most famous violins ever made, including a 1720 golden period “Ex-Rochester” Stradivarius.

Mr. Antonello acquired the Stradivarius sight-unseen from violin dealer Kenneth Warren and Sons, which had acquired it from a Japanese collector. When Mr. Antonello first held his new violin, he noticed that the strings sat high above the fingerboard, an indication that the Stradivarius was rarely played.

The violin’s written record dates back to 1820, when it was entered into a collection in Rochester, England. This means that the first hundred years of the Stradivarius’ history is a mystery.

Although the Stradivarius was in pristine condition, it took Mr. Antonello three years to get the instrument to play correctly after so many years of not being used. The violin now plays beautifully and hits notes precisely. Find out more about Mr. Antonello’s musical history and accomplishments at michaelantonello.com.