Elio Severgnini was born in Castelleone (Cremona) on the 14th April, 1971. Since he was a child, he has showed remarkable manual endowment and a good disposition for music. Following the advice of his father Angelo and of his great-uncle Ettore Gazzoni, violinist, he attended the course in artistic carving directed by master Giuseppe Milanesi from 1982 to 1990.
    

Meanwhile, in 1985, he enrolled in the International Professional Institute for Wood and Violin Making Handicraft (Istituto Professionale Internazionale per l'Artigianato Liutario e del legno) "Antonio Stradivari" under the direction of master Vincenzo Bissolotti, receiving in 1989 the certificate of Master Violin Maker. Every year of his 4-year school career, he gained the "Walter Stauffer" education grant, issued by the homonymous foundation, and destined to very deserving students. Seen the excellent results he obtained, Master Francesco Bissolotti invited him to join his own studio in Cremona from 1990 to 1992, where he could polish different techniques of instruments handwork and brush-painting.

In 1993 he started his professional career, opening his own studio in Castelleone.

In 1995 he was called at Bruce Carlson, Fausto Cacciatori and Bernard Neumann's studio in Cremona, where he specialized in assembling, restoring and tuning instruments.

In 1996 he went back to his own studio in Castelleone.

He immediately started working with many prestigious violin makers as: Master Pierangelo Balzarini, Master Primo Pistoni and Master Josè Maria Lozano. With Master Josè Maria Lozano he deepened the studies and the search for different kinds of oil polish and, in particular, for polish based on fossil amber. Basing himself on historical formulas used in 1600-1700 for bow and pluck instruments, he created one using natural pigments that he personally prepared (alizarins of different shades, etc.). With this formula, he definitely improved the acoustic and aesthetic features.

Elio Severgnini builds his instruments (in new and antique style) following the Classic Cremonese method, taking his inspiration from the masterpieces by the great Italian masters of '700. Every step of the work can be documented at the purchaser's request. Mr. Severgnini takes special care and pays much attention to the wood choice; the wood is always of excellent quality and seasoning, in fact he uses the fir-wood coming from the mythic forest of Panveggio - in the Dolomites, where the best "resonance spruce" ("abete di risonanza") has been growing since ever. To follow its veining perfectly, the single planks are chopped and not cut. Following the same principle, he chooses veined maple coming from the Balkans in Bosnia that he purchases, after many on-the-spot investigations, from an old local carpenter. His instruments are played by professional players in the best orchestras in the world, by conservatory students and by collectors. During his career, he took part in many international competitions and there received the following prizes:

1994: 5th place, gained with a cello, at the 11th International Competition in Oakland - California, organized by the "Violin Society of America".

1995 : Silver medal for a violin and Certificate of Merit for a viola at the 12th International Competition in Albuquerque - New Mexico organized by the "Violin Society of America".

1997 : Silver medal for a violin at the 3rd International Competition of Violin makers in Mittenwald - Germany. First prize was not awarded.

1999 : Jury's Special Mention and Medal for the best promising violin maker at the 2nd International Competition in Paris - France.

2000: Invited by the Ministry of Culture of People's Republic of China, he took part in a collective exhibition dedicated to Italian violin making at the History Museum in Beijing, from 26th May to 2nd June.

2000: Gold medal dedicated to "Simone Fernando Sacconi", gained with a cello at the 9th International Competition "Antonio Stradivari" in Cremona - Italy.

2006: In May, he was asked to be part of the examining board of the International School of Violin Makers "Antonio Stradivari" in Cremona as External Commissioner expert in violin making.