Craftsman Honored: Brooklyn Luthier's Violins Fetch Millions

Sam Zygmuntowicz, a luthier from Brooklyn, is being honored by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center at a gala tonight. His violins, violas, and cellos are played by many of the society's performers, with some instruments referred to as the 'Brooklyn Strad.'

Zygmuntowicz, who transitioned to full-time instrument making in the mid-1980s, is described as a craftsman embodying woodworking, engineering, and historical knowledge. His instruments require significant time to craft, with customers sometimes waiting years for their custom pieces.

The value of Zygmuntowicz's instruments has significantly increased, with auction records showing sales up to $180,000 and private sales exceeding $200,000. This rise in value is occurring even as historically significant instruments like Stradivarius violins command even higher prices, making them inaccessible to most working musicians.

In other news, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced plans for a city-owned grocery store in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the Bronx, aiming to combat price gouging. This initiative is part of a broader plan to establish city-run markets across New York City.