Biography

Mario Grimaldi was born in 1957 in Filippa of Mesoraca (Crotone, Calabria, South Italy). The ancient Mesoraca (Messurga) was founded by the population of the Enotri in the 10th century BC and situated between two rivers, whose melodious sound explains the meaning of its name, that is “musicians’ village”. Even nowadays music plays a major role in the life of the people of Mesoraca. After having moved to Milan, Mario soon stars to learn the art of carving the wood by working as model-maker in a factory that made Ferrari car’s models. At the Scuola Civica in Milan Mario follows courses in theory and solfeggio, classical guitar and double bass. He nurtures the idea of dedicating himself to the construction of plucked instruments, motivated by the desire to possess a non-industrial instrument himself. Therefore in 1986 he joins the School of Lutherie in Vignate (MI) following the courses given by Carlo Raspagni and subsequently opens his own workshop. In 1990 he moves to Piedmont and starts making copies of historical models such as guitars by Torres, Hauser and Bouchet, which soon receive very positive reviews. Among other feedbacks, it is worth noting the appreciating remarks given by master Angelo Gilardino and Guido Margaria, professors at the “A.Vivaldi” Conservatoire of Alessandria. M. Alirio Diaz himself, visiting his friend Margaria, had the chance to play Mario Grimaldi’s guitar and remained very favourably impressed. For the 30th anniversary of the famous International Guitar Festival “M.Pittaluga” held annually in Alessandria, the committee commissioned 2 of Mario’s guitars, one as a gift to M. Diaz (honorary judge of the context) and the other one for the winner of the competition. In 1992 Mario founded the now annual guitar exhibition in Trisobbio. Between 1998 and 2000 he moved back to Calabria and came in contact with musicians, customers of his workshop, who played traditional music, which still enriches the life of the people of Mesoraca. Such realization led Mario to re-create traditional instruments, such as guitars a battente, lyre calabrese, wooden small flutes etc etc. He also founded a traditional Calabrese music group named “Misuraca” (the ancient name of Mesoraca). In 2002 he was a guitar-making teacher in the Wood School of Petilia Policastro (CR). Back in Piedmont he met Carlo, son and helper of the famous luthier Gallinotti. Mario acquired much of the material that belonged to Gallinotti’s historical workshop. From Gallinotti’s typical way of making guitars, Mario learned the shapes, the models, the tools and the wood, with which he has been able to refine his work, now inspired by this great luthier and by traditional Spanish models. His workshop is currently based inside the beautiful castle of Cremolino, a village of the Alto Monferrato situated on the hills of Ovada and Acqui Terme. This area is rich in manor houses, among which this castle is the biggest, the most architectonically interesting and the best preserved (now a private habitation).