The Stradivari Society^® was founded in Chicago in 1985 through the efforts of Geoffrey Fushi; Mary Galvin, a generous patron; and a special request by the distinguished violin pedagogue Dorothy DeLay of The Juilliard School. Ms. DeLay felt that an exceptional ten-year-old student of hers had the potential to be an international star and needed the best possible instrument to help launch her career. She proposed that she bring her talented student to Chicago in order to give her the opportunity to play an exceptional violin by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesł of 1735, known as the "David," for her potential patron. The audition was a success and the instrument was loaned to the young violinist. Thanks to the dedication of her teacher and the ideal combination of her extraordinary talent and this remarkable instrument, the young girl's career flourished and The Stradivari Society^® was born. The young virtuoso became much in demand as a soloist and recording artist with many of the world's leading orchestras. So fruitful was her career that after several years she was actually able to purchase the instrument from her patron. Today Midori is one of the most sought-after of violin soloists and has been a Stradivari Society patron herself with the loan of her three-quarter-size Gagliano violin.

Encouraged by the results of this endeavor, the founders actively searched out additional instruments for other deserving artists. The "Ruby" Stradivari of 1708 was acquired and loaned to Joseph Swensen, who became a respected conductor and violinist. The program expanded to include cellists when another charitable patron loaned a then unknown Matt Haimowitz his Giuseppe Guarneri figlio d'Andrea cello. Violinists Dylana Jensen and Leonidas Kavakos were also assisted with the use of outstanding Stradivari violins at a crucial stage in their development. The Japanese violinists Kyoko Takezawa and Asako Urushihara are two more young artists the Society was able to help at the advent of their exceptional solo and recording careers.

In 1989, fueled by the growing need among promising young musicians and the interest among potential patrons worldwide, The Stradivari Society^® formally came into being. At that time, one of the Society's patrons purchased the "Princess de Polignac" Stradivari violin of 1699 for use by the 17-year-old violinist who had substituted for the ailing Itzhak Perlman, on only one day's notice, with the London Philharmonic to great acclaim. As a result of that performance, young Gil Shaham's career was launched. Like Midori's before him, Gil's career reached a level of success that enabled him to purchase the "Princess de Polignac" Stradivari from his patron. The eminent soloist Joshua Bell benefited from the Society's loan of the "Tom Taylor" Stradivari violin of 1732 until he too was able to purchase this beautiful example from his patron.

Thanks to its generous patrons, the Society has become a valued resource in the classical music community. Many distinguished teachers and artists have brought their most promising students to the Society: Sarah Chang was loaned the "Sennhauser" Guarneri del Gesł violin of 1735 at the beginning of her career while she was still a student of Dorothy DeLay at The Juilliard School. Then ten-year-old Leila Josefowicz, while a student of Robert Lipsett, became a recipient after former Society Director Suzanne Fushi heard her in performance. Conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim suggested Israeli violinist Nikolaj Znaider, and Itzhak Perlman recommended Russian violinist Ilya Gringolts, both of whom became recipients.