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Violinist María Dueñas to feature in new movie ‘Measures for a Funeral’
Sparks, joy and sunlight: Academy of St Martin in the Fields launches new season with cellist Anastasia Kobekina
Nine violinists progress to the IsangYun Violin Competition semi-finals
Darshan Trio signs with Visconti Arts
The Strad Calendar 2025: 1747 ‘Palmason’ Gennaro Gagliano violin
Yo-Yo Ma awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal
The award, which is the society’s highest honour, recognises the cellist’s outstanding musicianship and humanitarian efforts
Opinion: Practising scales in sequential order
While most string players agree that scales and arpeggios are the basic building blocks for good technique, cellist Robert Jesselson says that it’s essential to practise them sequentially to gain the maximum benefit
‘Our little boy deserves a future’ - violin-cello couple aims to raise €800,000 for son’s cancer treatment
The eight-year-old son of violinist Anna Lipkind-Mazor and cellist Gavriel Lipkind has a rare and aggressive form of cancer that requires specialist treatment in Barcelona
Playing Hub
‘One of the most rewarding musical relationships’ - Joseph Phibbs’s string quartets recorded by the Piatti Quartet
The composer shares the inspiration behind his string quartets nos. 2-4, ahead of the recording release by the Piatti Quartet on 1 November
Opinion: Practising scales in sequential order
While most string players agree that scales and arpeggios are the basic building blocks for good technique, cellist Robert Jesselson says that it’s essential to practise them sequentially to gain the maximum benefit
50 per cent viola: Quartetto di Cremona shuffles instrumentation for Bach’s ‘The Art of Fugue’
The ensemble’s newest release sees second violinist Paolo Andreoli taking up the viola and violist Simone Gramaglia playing a tenor viola, in order to capture the essence of Bach’s contrapuntal writing
Great string players of the past: Gary Karr on Sergey Koussevitzky
Gary Karr shares a spooky connection with double bassist Sergey Koussevitzky, in this article from October 2013
Brahms, Shostakovich and John Zorn: the Junction Trio debuts at the 92nd St Y
US correspondent Thomas May speaks with violinist Stefan Jackiw and cellist Jay Campbell of the Junction Trio about their upcoming programme at the 92nd St Y, where they will give the world premiere of a new work John Zorn has written for them, alongside music by Brahms and Shostakovich.
Violinist Yeyeong Jenny Jin on returning to New Zealand following competition success, and the Young Virtuosi Antipodean tour
The 2023 winner of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition speaks to The Strad about her tour of New Zealand and Australia with Jeonghwan Kim, as well as how discovering culinary delights provides motivation for being on the road
Premium ❘ Feature
Trade Secrets: Making a wooden peg shaper
A method for creating a model with an interchangeable blade
Premium ❘ Feature
My Space: Yam Uri Raz’s Hawai’i workshop
The maker shows us around his shop in the city of Hilo
Premium ❘ Feature
Trade Secrets: Making a wooden peg shaper
A method for creating a model with an interchangeable blade
Premium ❘ Focus
Postcard from Switzerland: Gstaad Menuhin Festival
The Gstaad Menuhin Festival presented more than 60 concerts over six weeks in the Swiss Alps during the summer of 2024. Laurence Vittes sampled some of the best of its strings programming
Premium ❘ Focus
Opinion: Avoid cheap instruments for beginners
Cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell urges parents not to buy their children cheap stringed instruments online – it’s a false economy and only leads to disappointment and waste
Competitions
Prizes awarded at Dubai Classic Violin Competition
US violinist Elli Choi scooped the top prize of €20,000 and along with Ruifeng Lin, qualifies for the Classic Violin Olympus International Competition next year
Nine violinists progress to the IsangYun Violin Competition semi-finals
The semi-finals will take place on 6 and 7 November in Tongyeong, South Korea, with each contestant performing a recital with piano
Dubai Classic Violin Competition announces finalists
The ten violinists will be competing for a €20,000 first prize
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: Kebra-Seyoun Charles’s new bass concerto
A New York-inspired bass concerto brings together varying dance forms
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: Tim Garland’s new violin concerto
A violin concerto with improvisation throughout
Masterclass: Saint-Saëns Havanaise op.83
Violinist Max Baillie gives smart and efficient practice tips to showcase a piece for violin and orchestra that juxtaposes lyricism with virtuosic passagework
Masterclass: Schubert Arpeggione Sonata on viola, first movement
Yuri Zhislin illustrates the importance of colour and harmony in a work renowned for its lyricism and technicality
Masterclass: Saint-Saëns Havanaise op.83
Violinist Max Baillie gives smart and efficient practice tips to showcase a piece for violin and orchestra that juxtaposes lyricism with virtuosic passagework
Masterclass: Schubert Arpeggione Sonata on viola, first movement
Yuri Zhislin illustrates the importance of colour and harmony in a work renowned for its lyricism and technicality
Masterclass: Mendelssohn String Quartet in F minor, first movement
Second violinist of the Aris Quartet Noémi Zipperling examines Mendelssohn’s emotionally charged movement, considered to be a requiem for his sister and, ultimately, himself
The Strad Podcast: How to tailor the Suzuki Method to different students with violinist Meghan Faw
The violinist shares her personal experiences with the method as both a student and a teacher
The Strad Podcast: How to hold a masterclass with violinist Paul Huang
The violinist speaks about his teaching approaches in a unique learning experience, in the third part of our four-part education-themed podcast series
The Strad Podcast: How to teach collaborative skills with violinist Annie Fullard of the Cavani Quartet
‘We should live in a chamber music world’ - the violinist speaks about the importance of collaboration inside and outside of the practice room, in the second episode of our four-part education-themed podcast series
The Strad Podcast: How to practise effectively with violinist Ray Chen
The first in our new four-part education themed podcast series features our September 2024 cover star
The Strad Podcast: How to tailor the Suzuki Method to different students with violinist Meghan Faw
The violinist shares her personal experiences with the method as both a student and a teacher
The Strad Podcast: How to hold a masterclass with violinist Paul Huang
The violinist speaks about his teaching approaches in a unique learning experience, in the third part of our four-part education-themed podcast series
The Strad Podcast: How to teach collaborative skills with violinist Annie Fullard of the Cavani Quartet
‘We should live in a chamber music world’ - the violinist speaks about the importance of collaboration inside and outside of the practice room, in the second episode of our four-part education-themed podcast series
Competitions
Prizes awarded at Dubai Classic Violin Competition
US violinist Elli Choi scooped the top prize of €20,000 and along with Ruifeng Lin, qualifies for the Classic Violin Olympus International Competition next year
Nine violinists progress to the IsangYun Violin Competition semi-finals
The semi-finals will take place on 6 and 7 November in Tongyeong, South Korea, with each contestant performing a recital with piano
Dubai Classic Violin Competition announces finalists
The ten violinists will be competing for a €20,000 first prize
Lera Auerbach’s ‘T’filah’ performed by violinist Christine Bernsted
Bernsted performs a solo work that she describes as having ‘complexity like a kaleidoscope’
Lera Auerbach’s ‘T’filah’ performed by violinist Christine Bernsted
Violinist Jack Liebeck and La Jolla SummerFest Chamber Orchestra perform The Lark Ascending
![Bottesini_Artwork[DIGITAL]](https://dnan0fzjxntrj.cloudfront.net/Pictures/270x180/6/8/9/36689_bottesini_artworkdigital_876468_crop.jpg)
A Mendelssohn-inspired double bass performance from James Oesi
Quartetto di Cremona musicians perform on Vueling flight
ARC Ensemble performs Frederick Block’s Piano Quintet
Video premiere: Lightning, heaven and Earth inspire India Gailey’s new cello concerto
‘Biting wit and playfulness’: violinist Dylan Ebrahimian performs Daria Semegen’s Music for Violin Solo
Vivere Quartet performs Hannah Havrylet’s ‘Expressions’
Davina Clarke plays Bach Sonata No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1016
Two violins are better than one: Candida Thompson, Simone Lamsma and Amsterdam Sinfonietta perform Bach
- Previous
- Next
The Strad Calendar 2025: 1747 ‘Palmason’ Gennaro Gagliano violin
Named for Canadian violinist Pearl Palmason, the violin has a back of one piece of maple with broad figure
New exhibition of Count Cozio di Salabue drawings to open in Cremona
The collection of manuscripts by the 19th-century Italian violin connoisseur is to be preserved for future study
Trade Secrets: Making a wooden peg shaper
A method for creating a model with an interchangeable blade
My Space: Yam Uri Raz’s Hawai’i workshop
The maker shows us around his shop in the city of Hilo
The Strad Calendar 2025: 1824 ‘McConnell’ Nicolò Gagliano II cello
A rare cello by the least prolific member of the Neapolitan family, the ‘McConnell’ has a two piece back of slab-cut poplar
Making Matters: A violin made by ten luthiers
Over the course of a year, ten luthiers in nine countries made a violin together, sending each other the parts by mail. Christian Lloyd reports on the unique project ‘Violinabox’
The Strad Calendar 2025: 1747 ‘Palmason’ Gennaro Gagliano violin
Named for Canadian violinist Pearl Palmason, the violin has a back of one piece of maple with broad figure
New exhibition of Count Cozio di Salabue drawings to open in Cremona
The collection of manuscripts by the 19th-century Italian violin connoisseur is to be preserved for future study
Trade Secrets: Making a wooden peg shaper
A method for creating a model with an interchangeable blade
My Space: Yam Uri Raz’s Hawai’i workshop
The maker shows us around his shop in the city of Hilo
The Strad Calendar 2025: 1824 ‘McConnell’ Nicolò Gagliano II cello
A rare cello by the least prolific member of the Neapolitan family, the ‘McConnell’ has a two piece back of slab-cut poplar
Making Matters: A violin made by ten luthiers
Over the course of a year, ten luthiers in nine countries made a violin together, sending each other the parts by mail. Christian Lloyd reports on the unique project ‘Violinabox’
Concert review: Lark, Roman and Meyer Trio
Thomas May attends their concert of Bach and music by Meyer himself at the University of Washington’s Meany Center for the Arts in Seattle on 16 October 2024
Festival round-up: Edinburgh International Festival 2024
David Kettle reports from the Edinburgh International Festival, where string works were much in evidence
Concert review: Bozzini Quartet
Bruce Hodges takes in the performance of Bekah Simms, Klaus Lang, James Tenney at Jürg Frey at Mary Flagler Cary Hall in New York’s Dimenna Center on 16 and 17 August 2024
Joshua Bell, Steven Isserlis: Mendelssohn
Darkness and drama aplenty from three master musicians
Juilliard Quartet: Schoenberg
A fitting 150th-birthday tribute to a musical visionary
James Ehnes: Sibelius
An evergreen concerto is compellingly reframed
Book review: Thumb Position
Caroline Emery reviews double bass tutor Charlotte Mohrs’s introduction to playing in thumb position, published in English for the first time
Book review: A Survey of Solo Works for the Violoncello
Janet Banks reviews cello professor Brian Hodges’ volume on cello repertoire from the 17th century to the present day
Book review: The Instrumentalist
Anne Inglis reviews Harriet Constable’s fictionalised account of the life of violinist Anna Maria della Pietà, protégé of Vivaldi
Debate
Opinion: Practising scales in sequential order
While most string players agree that scales and arpeggios are the basic building blocks for good technique, cellist Robert Jesselson says that it’s essential to practise them sequentially to gain the maximum benefit
Opinion: Avoid cheap instruments for beginners
Cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell urges parents not to buy their children cheap stringed instruments online – it’s a false economy and only leads to disappointment and waste
Debate
Opinion: Practising scales in sequential order
While most string players agree that scales and arpeggios are the basic building blocks for good technique, cellist Robert Jesselson says that it’s essential to practise them sequentially to gain the maximum benefit
Opinion: Avoid cheap instruments for beginners
Cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell urges parents not to buy their children cheap stringed instruments online – it’s a false economy and only leads to disappointment and waste
Accessories
Products November 2024: Gewa Space Bag colours
New colours are now available for the company’s backpack range
Products November 2024: Leatherwood Concerto rosin
A new rosin tailored to solo playing
Products November 2024: Pirastro Luna KorfkerRest for viola
Violists can now enjoy Pirastro’s newest shoulder rest model
Concert review: Lark, Roman and Meyer Trio
Thomas May attends their concert of Bach and music by Meyer himself at the University of Washington’s Meany Center for the Arts in Seattle on 16 October 2024
Festival round-up: Edinburgh International Festival 2024
David Kettle reports from the Edinburgh International Festival, where string works were much in evidence
Concert review: Bozzini Quartet
Bruce Hodges takes in the performance of Bekah Simms, Klaus Lang, James Tenney at Jürg Frey at Mary Flagler Cary Hall in New York’s Dimenna Center on 16 and 17 August 2024
Book review: Thumb Position
Caroline Emery reviews double bass tutor Charlotte Mohrs’s introduction to playing in thumb position, published in English for the first time
Book review: A Survey of Solo Works for the Violoncello
Janet Banks reviews cello professor Brian Hodges’ volume on cello repertoire from the 17th century to the present day
Book review: The Instrumentalist
Anne Inglis reviews Harriet Constable’s fictionalised account of the life of violinist Anna Maria della Pietà, protégé of Vivaldi
Joshua Bell, Steven Isserlis: Mendelssohn
Darkness and drama aplenty from three master musicians
Juilliard Quartet: Schoenberg
A fitting 150th-birthday tribute to a musical visionary
James Ehnes: Sibelius
An evergreen concerto is compellingly reframed
Artists
Great string players of the past: Gary Karr on Sergey Koussevitzky
Gary Karr shares a spooky connection with double bassist Sergey Koussevitzky, in this article from October 2013
‘Exquisite melodies and a profound story’: Christian-Pierre La Marca on his new album, Love Letters
The cellist speaks to The Strad about his new album which musically encapsulates the language of love, from music by Robert and Clara Schumann, to music of the present day
Julia Hagen makes her Vienna Philharmonic debut at the Lucerne Festival
US correspondent Thomas May interviews cellist Julia Hagen, winner of the 2024 UBS Young Artist Award, on the eve of her breakthrough debut with the Vienna Philharmonic at the Lucerne Festival
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