Playing Hub

GRAMMY SUBMISSION ARTIST SHOT

‘Music is a powerful tool for education and awareness’: violinist Rebekah Reid

2023-09-29T10:08:00+01:00

The violinist shares how using a combination of acoustics, improvisation and electronics to the themes of synchronicity and cycles provided her with the tools to create music for the podcast 28ish Days Later, helping break taboos surrounding discussions of the female menstrual cycle

pexels-yan-krukau-8519673

Do string students really need to learn note names? Teacher’s notes with Philippa Bunting

2023-09-29T08:40:00+01:00

Learning the names of notes can be one of the first stumbling blocks for beginner pupils. But it doesn’t have to be

image (66)

‘As though we’d been playing together for years’ - Double Acts: Emmanuelle Bertrand and Pascal Amoyel

2023-09-29T08:33:00+01:00

French cellist Emmanuelle Bertrand and her duo partner and compatriot, pianist Pascal Amoyel, on why they are each other’s ‘musical barometer’.

R

‘His violin still sings in my ears’ - From the Archive: October 1893

2023-09-28T08:33:00+01:00

The Strad selects some highlights from the memoirs of violinist Charles Dancla (1817–1907), recently published in Paris

The Smith Quartet 26 Sept bw

‘Intimidating, terrifying, brutal’: the Smith Quartet on conquering Beethoven’s notoriously difficult Grosse Fuge

2023-09-26T10:38:00+01:00

Current and former members of the Smith Quartet speak about their experiences of Beethoven’s massive opus, including its many challenges and highlights

Pressefoto_Mönkemeyer_Brahms_c_Irène Zandel-(12)

‘Learning to trust yourself is a never-ending process’ - Nils Mönkemeyer’s life lessons

2023-09-25T08:45:00+01:00

The German violist on finding his confidence and the journey of becoming a soloist

Lead image

Premium ❘ Feature

Making Matters: Making transitional bows

2023-10-03T08:31:00+01:00

In 2021 bow maker Markus Laine was commissioned to make 15 transitional bows to be used by a single chamber orchestra. What were the challenges – and what change did it make to the sound?

R

Premium ❘ Feature

‘His violin still sings in my ears’ - From the Archive: October 1893

2023-09-28T08:33:00+01:00

The Strad selects some highlights from the memoirs of violinist Charles Dancla (1817–1907), recently published in Paris

Lead image

Premium ❘ Feature

Making Matters: Making transitional bows

2023-10-03T08:31:00+01:00

In 2021 bow maker Markus Laine was commissioned to make 15 transitional bows to be used by a single chamber orchestra. What were the challenges – and what change did it make to the sound?

Pressefoto_Mönkemeyer_Brahms_c_Irène Zandel-(12)

Premium ❘ Focus

‘Learning to trust yourself is a never-ending process’ - Nils Mönkemeyer’s life lessons

2023-09-25T08:45:00+01:00

The German violist on finding his confidence and the journey of becoming a soloist

Schmuckhof_c_Ninja Anderlohr-Hepp

Premium ❘ Focus

Postcard from Germany: Kissinger Sommer festival

2023-09-18T08:46:00+01:00

A stay in northern Bavaria’s spa town of Bad Kissingen for the Kissinger Sommer festival proved to be a balm for the soul for Laurence Vittes

Competitions

Finalists

No first prize awarded at 2023 Oskar Nedbal Viola Competition

2023-10-03T09:39:00+01:00

The prize winners received cash, plus products from GEWA and Pirastro

download (3)

Winners announced at 2023 Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition

2023-10-03T09:07:00+01:00

Playing trios by Schubert, three piano trios competed for the top prize of €15,000 and future concert engagements

Untitled design (1)

Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition announces finalists for its 2023 edition

2023-09-29T10:59:00+01:00

Three piano trios will compete for the top prize of €15,000 and future concert engagements in the finals on 30 September

[1] Luiz Fernando Venturelli pc © Todd Rosenberg

Premium ❘ News

Competitions, Awards and Appointments: October 2023

2023-09-13T08:44:43.88+01:00

This month’s competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests

Elena pc BruriaHammer

Premium ❘ News

Premiere of the Month: Elena Kats-Chernin on her new double concerto

2023-09-13T08:44:00+01:00

The Sarenka Concerto is in memory of an extraordinary woman

Tetzaff_4_┬®Giorgia_Bertazzi

The Strad Podcast #96: Christian Tetzlaff on Bartók Violin Concerto no.2

2023-09-28T09:06:00+01:00

The violinist shares his personal experience and thoughts on the work

B066916RACPOD110 bw

The Strad Podcast #95: Historical instrument chat with violinist Rachel Podger

2023-09-21T08:36:00+01:00

Rachel speaks about the tools of her trade in this episode of the ‘Podgecast’

Matthew Barley, cello

The Strad Podcast #94: a theatrical Verklärte Nacht with cellist Matthew Barley

2023-09-14T08:34:00+01:00

The cellist speaks about creating a theatrical experience with a multitude of access points for new and existing audiences to Schoenberg’s piece and other related works

ALEXANDER_HERSH_CELLO-9171 bw

The Strad Podcast #93: creative storytelling with cellist Alexander Hersh

2023-09-07T08:31:00+01:00

The star of ‘Absinthe’ shares how narrative and multiple access points can benefit classical music in reaching new audiences

Competitons

Finalists

No first prize awarded at 2023 Oskar Nedbal Viola Competition

2023-10-03T09:39:00+01:00

The prize winners received cash, plus products from GEWA and Pirastro

download (3)

Winners announced at 2023 Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition

2023-10-03T09:07:00+01:00

Playing trios by Schubert, three piano trios competed for the top prize of €15,000 and future concert engagements

Untitled design (1)

Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition announces finalists for its 2023 edition

2023-09-29T10:59:00+01:00

Three piano trios will compete for the top prize of €15,000 and future concert engagements in the finals on 30 September

More from Lutherie

Conte Vitale viola

The Strad Calendar 2024: 1676 ‘Conte Vitale’ Andrea Guarneri viola

2023-10-03T08:41:00+01:00By

The ‘Conte Vitale’ is one of only two instruments in the collection to have retained its original neck

Lead image

Making Matters: Making transitional bows

2023-10-03T08:31:00+01:00

In 2021 bow maker Markus Laine was commissioned to make 15 transitional bows to be used by a single chamber orchestra. What were the challenges – and what change did it make to the sound?

Baron Knoop violin

The Strad Calendar 2024: 1715 ‘Baron Knoop’ Antonio Stradivari violin

2023-09-26T09:07:00+01:00By

The favourite instrument of collector David L. Fulton, for whom its tone is ’silvery with lots of “sizzle”’

Front full

In Focus: A c.1800 violin by Joseph Panormo

2023-09-22T07:32:00+01:00

Andrew Fairfax on the UK-based Italian maker’s turn-of-the-century instrument

Pietro Guarneri Mantua violin

The Strad Calendar 2024: 1698 ‘Shapiro’ Pietro Guarneri of Mantua violin

2023-09-19T09:41:00+01:00By

The first fine instrument ever bought by collector David L. Fulton is a genuine rarity

9

Trade Secrets: Making a mould and templates from a poster

2023-09-19T08:32:00+01:00

A quick, efficient and accurate way of cutting durable templates using one of The Strad’s publications

gil

Concert review: Gil Shaham (violin) National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America/Andrew Davis

2023-09-29T08:30:00+01:00By Bruce Hodges

Bruce Hodges witnesses the performance of Barber, Berlioz, Scott Wheeler and Valerie Coleman at New York’s Carnegie Hall on 14 July 2023

koh

Concert review: Jennifer Koh (violin) NYO2/Joseph Young

2023-09-28T08:31:00+01:00By Bruce Hodges

Bruce Hodges reviews the concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall on 15 July 2023, comprising Sibelius, Bernstein, Prokofiev, Carlos Simon and Antonio Abreu

phil ying

Concert review: Peter Winograd, Janet Ying (violins) Rebecca Albers, Phillip Ying, Dimitri Murrath (violas) Steven Doane (cello) Pei-Shan Lee (piano)

2023-09-27T08:31:00+01:00By Leah Hollingsworth

Leah Hollingsworth watches a live stream from the Bowdoin International Music Festival on 5 July 2023

Undiscovered Viola Damore

Paul V. Miller: The Undiscovered Viola d’Amore

2023-10-03T08:30:00+01:00By

Newly discovered manuscripts prompt virtuoso performances

Bruch Goosby

Randall Goosby: Bruch, Price

2023-10-02T08:00:00+01:00By

Last month’s cover star impresses in an innovative pairing

Stravinsky Stalheim

Cellist Amalie Stalheim: Debussy, Poulenc, Stravinsky

2023-09-28T08:30:00+01:00By

Performances of great immediacy, captured by a first-rate recording

Screenshot 2023-08-24 114334

Review: ABRSM Violin Exam Pieces from 2024

2023-09-13T08:43:45.9+01:00By Alex Laing

Alex Laing reviews the Associated Board’s new violin examination works, from Grades 1 to 8

Screenshot 2023-08-24 114015

Review: ABRSM Cello Exam Pieces from 2024

2023-09-13T08:43:42.07+01:00By Janet Banks

Janet Banks reviews the new syllabus for the Associated Board’s cello exams, from Grades 1 to 5

Bach Chaconne

Book review: Chaconne Handbook I–II

2023-09-12T08:30:00+01:00By Robin Stowell

Robin Stowell reviews Márta Ábrahám’s treatise on the famed Chaconne, another in her series of discussions of Bach masterpieces

Debate

GettyImages-87462458

Opinion: Flexibility in orchestral playing

2023-10-02T08:15:00+01:00

Violinist Alexandra Gorski argues that an orchestra’s greatest asset is not power or accuracy; rather the ability to adapt seamlessly to every style of music and manner of conductor

GettyImages-170005609

Opinion: The importance (and difficulty) of playing softly

2023-08-16T08:44:00+01:00

As string players, we are often encouraged to make a big sound, but cellist Davina Shum believes that the art of playing quietly is an underrated one

Debate

GettyImages-87462458

Opinion: Flexibility in orchestral playing

2023-10-02T08:15:00+01:00

Violinist Alexandra Gorski argues that an orchestra’s greatest asset is not power or accuracy; rather the ability to adapt seamlessly to every style of music and manner of conductor

GettyImages-170005609

Opinion: The importance (and difficulty) of playing softly

2023-08-16T08:44:00+01:00

As string players, we are often encouraged to make a big sound, but cellist Davina Shum believes that the art of playing quietly is an underrated one

Accessories

Artists

Education Resources

  • The_Strad_directories_2023

  • 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.