Mathijs Adriaan Heyligers, born in Holland, moved to Italy in 1975 after his high school diploma. His study of violin making began at the International School of Violin Making of Cremona under the guidance of Giorgio Cè. In 1977 he was invited to the Violin Making School of Parma where he earned a diploma of master violin maker under the guidance of Renato Scrollavezza and Pietro Sgarabotto, in 1980.