In 1990, when the Chinese violinist Lin Chao-liang wanted to get a new violin, the Chi Mei Foundation bought the Stradivarius Chao had owned, thus beginning Chi Mei's instrument collection.
民國七十九年，華裔小提琴家林昭亮要換琴，奇美基金會便購買下他那把由義大利制琴名師安東．史特拉底瓦里製作的名琴，開啟了奇美的樂器收藏史。