- News
- For Subscribers
- Student Hub
- Playing Hub
- Directory
- Lutherie
- Magazine
- Magazine archive
- Whether you're a player, maker, teacher or enthusiast, you'll find ideas and inspiration from leading artists, teachers and luthiers in our archive which features every issue published since January 2010 - available exclusively to subscribers. View the archive.
- Jobs
- Shop
- Podcast
- Contact us
- Subscribe
- School Subscription
- Competitions
- Reviews
- Debate
- Artists
- Accessories
Why practice doesn’t prepare musicians for performance
Leonidas Kavakos appointed principal guest conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra
Lufthansa Group changes hand luggage rules following negotiations with violinist Carolin Widmann
‘An uncanny gift for helping people realise what music is about’: celebrating György Kurtág at 100
‘We interpret the music through a modern lens’: The Anzû Quartet on Messiaen’s ‘Quatuor’
Lufthansa Group changes hand luggage rules following negotiations with violinist Carolin Widmann
Under the new policy, added measurements will be taken into account to permit small instruments on board as hand luggage
‘An uncanny gift for helping people realise what music is about’: celebrating György Kurtág at 100
For the 100th anniversary of the monumental Hungarian composer, The Strad recounts his musical upbringing, most influential string works and shares words from leading string players about their experiences with the composer and his music
March 2026: Editor’s welcome and contents
The Strad’s editor Emma Baker introduces the March issue, in which Serbian cover star Nemanja Radulović speaks about his formative influences and new Prokofiev album
Playing Hub
‘An uncanny gift for helping people realise what music is about’: celebrating György Kurtág at 100
For the 100th anniversary of the monumental Hungarian composer, The Strad recounts his musical upbringing, most influential string works and shares words from leading string players about their experiences with the composer and his music
‘We interpret the music through a modern lens’: The Anzû Quartet on Messiaen’s ‘Quatuor’
To mark the release of their new recording of Messiaen’s Quatuor pour la fin du temps, the Anzû Quartet considers how a fixed ensemble rooted in contemporary music approaches one of the chamber repertoire’s most singular works.
Beyond the practice room: how musicians and music schools must evolve to thrive in a changing world
Violinist Hector Scott explores how the role of musicians has changed over time, and the crucial skills that string players need to learn in order to adapt
Recording Dvořák with an extraordinary cello
The young French cellist Raphaël Jouan reflects on a rare and transformative encounter with a 1710 Matteo Gofriller cello. Thanks to a generous loan, Jouan was able to record his new Dvořák album on this exceptional instrument, which was previously in the hands of the renowned cellist Antonio Meneses.
Sentimental Work: Orin O’Brien on Stravinsky’s ballet Orpheus
Playing the score for Stravinsky’s ballet Orpheus was a formative experience for the American double bassist in the years before she joined the New York Philharmonic
Ysaÿe recounts his WW1 exile - From the archive: February 1916
Belgian violinist Eugène Ysaÿe, living in exile in London during World War I, tells writer B. Henderson how he escaped from his homeland in 1914
Premium ❘ Feature
Nemanja Radulović: music in the moment
Charismatic Serbian violinist Nemanja Radulović chats to Charlotte Gardner about the importance of artistic freedom and musical friendships, and recording his latest album of music by Prokofiev
Premium ❘ Feature
Making history: Pressenda double bass
Until now, it was believed that the Turin-based luthier Giovanni Francesco Pressenda had never made a double bass. Tsutomu Miyasaka reveals how an instrument was recently identified that rewrote the story
Premium ❘ Feature
Nemanja Radulović: music in the moment
Charismatic Serbian violinist Nemanja Radulović chats to Charlotte Gardner about the importance of artistic freedom and musical friendships, and recording his latest album of music by Prokofiev
Premium ❘ Focus
‘Constant questioning makes life so beautiful’ - Nicolas Altstaedt’s life lessons
The German cellist on developing an intuitive understanding of music, and the importance of constant exploration
Premium ❘ Focus
Opinion: SongHa Choi on ‘aura’ in live performance
In an age of instant digital access to recorded music, violinist SongHa Choi still believes that nothing can compare to the experience of a live performance
Competitions
Ysaÿe International Violin Competition announces 2026 finalists
A total of 20 violinists will proceed to the junior and senior finals
Winners announced for the 2026 Netherlands Violin Competition
Violinist Rebecca Roozeman wins the €12,000 Oskar Back first prize
Violin winners announced at the 2026 International Mozart Competition
Chinese violinist Xunyue Zhang took the top prize €10,000, following the final round on 12 February
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: Shelley Washington’s new cello concerto
A Metal-influenced cello concerto channels a range of emotions
Premium ❘ News
Competitions, Awards and Appointments: March 2026
The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests
Masterclass: Hoffmeister Viola Concerto in D major, first movement
Knowledge of the Classical style, technical proficiency and musical creativity are keys to making this movement successful beyond audition preparation, says violist Louise Lansdown
Masterclass: Beethoven Violin Sonata no.10, op.96, first movement
Simplicity is the challenge in this peaceful, pastoral movement, creating an image of Beethoven at one with nature, says violinist Lena Neudauer
Masterclass: Hoffmeister Viola Concerto in D major, first movement
Knowledge of the Classical style, technical proficiency and musical creativity are keys to making this movement successful beyond audition preparation, says violist Louise Lansdown
Masterclass: Beethoven Violin Sonata no.10, op.96, first movement
Simplicity is the challenge in this peaceful, pastoral movement, creating an image of Beethoven at one with nature, says violinist Lena Neudauer
Masterclass: Brahms Cello Sonata no.1 in E minor op.38, third movement
This fugal final movement requires elements of restraint where climaxes must be managed carefully, says cellist Steffan Morris
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
Ysaÿe International Violin Competition announces 2026 finalists
A total of 20 violinists will proceed to the junior and senior finals
Winners announced for the 2026 Netherlands Violin Competition
Violinist Rebecca Roozeman wins the €12,000 Oskar Back first prize
Violin winners announced at the 2026 International Mozart Competition
Chinese violinist Xunyue Zhang took the top prize €10,000, following the final round on 12 February
Michael Stephen Brown gives the viola the spotlight in a new work
Paul Neubauer takes centre stage in Brown’s work The Viola from his Pas de Trois
Michael Stephen Brown gives the viola the spotlight in a new work
The violin technique that shouldn’t exist: MinutePhysics explains Roman Kim’s harmonics technique
Jupiter Quartet performs Ginastera’s String Quartet no.1
Amy Beach’s Romance op.23 for double bass and piano
Roman Kim: virtuosity, artistic freedom and how to find your voice
Bach in a new space: Francesca Dego performs the Chaconne
Video: Richard Tognetti performs at the top of Sydney Opera House
Hina & Fiona perform Handel-Halvorsen Passacaglia for two violins
‘You feel the presence and breath of a fifth person’ - The Elmire Quartet on its debut ‘Rasumovsky’ Quartets album
A cello, a zipline and a drone: how Gautier Capuçon’s Alpine music video was filmed
- Previous
- Next
Making history: Pressenda double bass
Until now, it was believed that the Turin-based luthier Giovanni Francesco Pressenda had never made a double bass. Tsutomu Miyasaka reveals how an instrument was recently identified that rewrote the story
Making Matters: an expert team varnishes a copy of the ‘Farina’ Montagnana cello
Mark Schnurr looks back at the process of varnishing a copy of the 1730 ‘Farina’ Montagnana cello at the 2024 Oberlin Violin Making Workshop
In Focus: An 1822 violin by Georges Chanot I
Jonathan Marolle examines the French maker’s early instrument
My Space: Francisco Núñez Gómez’s Santa Ana workshop
The maker presents his shop, located in Costa Rica
Trade Secrets: Making a paper template for a scroll
A procedure that allows for accurate reproduction as well as being a stimulant to creativity
’A distinctive golden aura’: cellist Jamie Walton on the 1642 Nicolò Amati cello
Jamie Walton, the current custodian of the Amati cello, reflects on its sound and projection
Making history: Pressenda double bass
Until now, it was believed that the Turin-based luthier Giovanni Francesco Pressenda had never made a double bass. Tsutomu Miyasaka reveals how an instrument was recently identified that rewrote the story
Making Matters: an expert team varnishes a copy of the ‘Farina’ Montagnana cello
Mark Schnurr looks back at the process of varnishing a copy of the 1730 ‘Farina’ Montagnana cello at the 2024 Oberlin Violin Making Workshop
In Focus: An 1822 violin by Georges Chanot I
Jonathan Marolle examines the French maker’s early instrument
My Space: Francisco Núñez Gómez’s Santa Ana workshop
The maker presents his shop, located in Costa Rica
Trade Secrets: Making a paper template for a scroll
A procedure that allows for accurate reproduction as well as being a stimulant to creativity
’A distinctive golden aura’: cellist Jamie Walton on the 1642 Nicolò Amati cello
Jamie Walton, the current custodian of the Amati cello, reflects on its sound and projection
Concert review: Nicolas Altstaedt (cello) Thomas Dunford (lute)
Bruce Hodges attends Philadelphia’s Perelman Theater on 20 November 2025 for the recital of Bach, Marais and Forqueray and Duparc
Concert review: María Dueñas (violin) Philadelphia Orchestra/Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Bruce Hodges reports on the performance of Lalo, Terence Blanchard and Sibelius at Marian Anderson Hall, Philadelphia, PA, US, on 29 November 2025
Concert review: Juilliard Quartet, Catherine Cho (viola) Marcy Rosen (cello) Marc-André Hamelin (piano)
Leah Hollingsworth reports on the performance at New York’s Alice Tully Hall on 4 December 2025, while Bruce Hodges catches the recital at Philadelphia’s Perelman Theater on 14 December
Luca Ranieri: Brahms
Performances high in polish but lacking passion
Linda Hedlund: Finnish Works for Violin and Orchestra
A most attractive journey into lesser-known Finland
Arod Quartet: Haydn
Much to impress, except for a tendency for overplay Haydn’s wit
Book review: Music’s Odyssey: An Invitation to Western Classical Music
Robin Stowell reads composer Robin Holloway’s colossal survey of the whole Western classical music tradition, replete with the author’s own reflections and opinions
Book review: How to Perform with 100% Accuracy and Spend Less Time Practicing
Celia Cobb reads Annelle K. Gregory’s book of advice to string players on how they can use their practice time most effectively and combat stage fright, among other things
Book review: Ray Brown: His Life and Music
Tully Potter reads Jay Sweet’s biography of the legendary jazz bassist (1926–2002)
Debate
Opinion: SongHa Choi on ‘aura’ in live performance
In an age of instant digital access to recorded music, violinist SongHa Choi still believes that nothing can compare to the experience of a live performance
Opinion: Creating a musical environment
Suzuki pedagogue Helen Brunner considers the importance of preparing the environment for young learners, and why we should surround our children with music from the start
Debate
Opinion: SongHa Choi on ‘aura’ in live performance
In an age of instant digital access to recorded music, violinist SongHa Choi still believes that nothing can compare to the experience of a live performance
Opinion: Creating a musical environment
Suzuki pedagogue Helen Brunner considers the importance of preparing the environment for young learners, and why we should surround our children with music from the start
Accessories
Products March 2026: Pirastro KorfkerSpring chin rest
A new chin rest designed for flexibility and adjustability
Products March 2026: Swiss Wood Solutions Sonowood pegs
Four sustainable materials are available
Products March 2026: Thomastik-Infeld Rondo Gold viola strings
The range has now extended to include the viola
Concert review: Nicolas Altstaedt (cello) Thomas Dunford (lute)
Bruce Hodges attends Philadelphia’s Perelman Theater on 20 November 2025 for the recital of Bach, Marais and Forqueray and Duparc
Concert review: María Dueñas (violin) Philadelphia Orchestra/Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Bruce Hodges reports on the performance of Lalo, Terence Blanchard and Sibelius at Marian Anderson Hall, Philadelphia, PA, US, on 29 November 2025
Concert review: Juilliard Quartet, Catherine Cho (viola) Marcy Rosen (cello) Marc-André Hamelin (piano)
Leah Hollingsworth reports on the performance at New York’s Alice Tully Hall on 4 December 2025, while Bruce Hodges catches the recital at Philadelphia’s Perelman Theater on 14 December
Book review: Music’s Odyssey: An Invitation to Western Classical Music
Robin Stowell reads composer Robin Holloway’s colossal survey of the whole Western classical music tradition, replete with the author’s own reflections and opinions
Book review: How to Perform with 100% Accuracy and Spend Less Time Practicing
Celia Cobb reads Annelle K. Gregory’s book of advice to string players on how they can use their practice time most effectively and combat stage fright, among other things
Book review: Ray Brown: His Life and Music
Tully Potter reads Jay Sweet’s biography of the legendary jazz bassist (1926–2002)
Luca Ranieri: Brahms
Performances high in polish but lacking passion
Linda Hedlund: Finnish Works for Violin and Orchestra
A most attractive journey into lesser-known Finland
Arod Quartet: Haydn
Much to impress, except for a tendency for overplay Haydn’s wit
Artists
Nemanja Radulović: music in the moment
Charismatic Serbian violinist Nemanja Radulović chats to Charlotte Gardner about the importance of artistic freedom and musical friendships, and recording his latest album of music by Prokofiev
Beauty unbound by history: cellist Tommy Mesa explores the many voices of his 1767 Gagliano
Cellist Tommy Mesa’s historic Gagliano cello frames an eclectic programme spanning repertoire familiar and new.
Stella Chen: a bright future
The American violinist chats with Rebecca Franks about her philosophy of playing and teaching, studying at Harvard, her experience of winning the Queen Elisabeth Competition and her new album, which marks a fresh chapter in her career
Education Resources
-
-
The Strad Directory is the essential resource for the string music world, with over 2,300 listings providing information on string businesses across North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.
Whether you are a string player searching for a new instrument or a business owner looking to reach your target audience, the Strad Directory remains the most comprehensive and user-friendly resource for the string music world.
Available from The Strad Shop
-
Whether you're a player, maker, teacher or an enthusiast, the Strad Shop is the number one source for books, CDs and back issues of the magazine. Products for sale include an exclusive range of instrument making posters, calendars and information products published by and directly for sale from The Strad.
- THE STRAD SHOP
Keep informed
