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Results announced for the 2026 Louis Spohr Competition for Young Violinists
Winners announced at the 2026 Premio Annarosa Taddei International Competition
Dōnum Quartet named as Young Concert Artists 2026 ensemble in residence
Teenage violinist wins $3,500 science award for study of expressive violin sound
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Results announced for the 2026 Louis Spohr Competition for Young Violinists
Winners announced at the 2026 Premio Annarosa Taddei International Competition
Dōnum Quartet named as Young Concert Artists 2026 ensemble in residence
Teenage violinist wins $3,500 science award for study of expressive violin sound
Obituary: Herbert Blomstedt (1927–2026)
The renowned Swedish conductor, whose career spanned more than seven decades, died on 4 November aged 99
Violinist wins 2026 BBC Young Musician
18-year-old violinist Sofia Demetriades has won the prestigious competition
A gallery of horror: ten terrifying stock images of string players
Happy Halloween! Venture into our exhibit of stock photography, if you dare
Playing Hub
inti figgis-vizueta traces eight years of transformation on ‘Music for Transitions’
The composer reflects on eight years of life and work in New York City, the improvisational possibilities of the string quartet, and the themes of change, queer identity and trans futurism that shape her new album
A conversation with Ysaÿe - From the archive: November 1896
The great Belgian violinist Eugène Ysaÿe, aged 38, talks to The Strad at his home in Brussels
Why string players shouldn’t neglect improvisation
Violinist Preetha Narayanan and cellist Tara Franks of Balladeste build their music from improvisation, without writing a note down. Ahead of the release of their fourth album, Imprints, they talk about where that started and why classically trained string players should learn to lean into improvisation
It takes an army of friends: Building a double bass festival in Honduras
Honduran bassist Ethel Chavarría describes how she and her fellow musicians came together to create a create new opportunities for young double bass players in her home country
A gallery of horror: ten terrifying stock images of string players
Happy Halloween! Venture into our exhibit of stock photography, if you dare
How Scotland’s old stories shaped my album ‘Binnorie’
From Halloween guisers and neep lanterns to ancient ballads and island folklore, a journey through Scotland’s rich storytelling traditions became the foundation of Louise Bichan’s new album, Binnorie
Premium ❘ Feature
The Liberty luthier: Nicola Utili
Stefano Pio examines the life and career of the early 20th-century Italian luthier Nicola Utili, who combined his natural skills in instrument making with a penchant for innovation and acoustic research
Premium ❘ Feature
Making Matters: The curious case of Knute Reindahl’s 1905 violin
An impressively carved violin from 1905 led HyeonJeong Kim on a journey to discover more about its maker and dedicatee
Premium ❘ Feature
The Liberty luthier: Nicola Utili
Stefano Pio examines the life and career of the early 20th-century Italian luthier Nicola Utili, who combined his natural skills in instrument making with a penchant for innovation and acoustic research
Premium ❘ Focus
Opinion: the third ear
The most important musical ear a string player can develop might be the one that they can never physically possess themselves, says violinist, violist and teacher Alex Laing
Premium ❘ Focus
Postcard from Rhode Island: Newport Classical Music Festival
At the Newport Classical Music Festival, Rita Fernandes heard a variety of captivating performances against the elegant backdrop of a New England summer resort
Competitions
Results announced for the 2026 Louis Spohr Competition for Young Violinists
The competition, dedicated to three age categories, was held in Weimar from 29 October to 7 November
Winners announced at the 2026 Premio Annarosa Taddei International Competition
Denmark’s Meisl Quartet scooped the first prize of €8,000
Dōnum Quartet named as Young Concert Artists 2026 ensemble in residence
The South Korean quartet joins the YCA roster along with soprano Bridget Esler and pianist Taige Wang
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: Jocelyn Campbell’s new electronic violin work
An electronic work using fragments of violin playing
Premium ❘ News
Competitions, Awards and Appointments: November 2026
The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests
Masterclass: Bach Violin Concerto in E major BWV1042, third movement
Julian Rachlin shines a light on this joyful movement comprising a satisfying musical architecture that alternates between anchoring refrains and exploratory soloistic episodes
Masterclass: Schumann Fairy-tale Pictures op.113, third and fourth movements
Patrick Yim explores two movements of juxtaposing characters that test a viola player’s versatility and technical skill
Masterclass: Bach Violin Concerto in E major BWV1042, third movement
Julian Rachlin shines a light on this joyful movement comprising a satisfying musical architecture that alternates between anchoring refrains and exploratory soloistic episodes
Masterclass: Schumann Fairy-tale Pictures op.113, third and fourth movements
Patrick Yim explores two movements of juxtaposing characters that test a viola player’s versatility and technical skill
Masterclass: Haydn Piano Trio in C major, Hob.XV:27, first movement
Violinist Elene Meipariani of Trio E.T.A. highlights the importance of finding a unified sound that brings life to this sprightly movement
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
Results announced for the 2026 Louis Spohr Competition for Young Violinists
The competition, dedicated to three age categories, was held in Weimar from 29 October to 7 November
Winners announced at the 2026 Premio Annarosa Taddei International Competition
Denmark’s Meisl Quartet scooped the first prize of €8,000
Dōnum Quartet named as Young Concert Artists 2026 ensemble in residence
The South Korean quartet joins the YCA roster along with soprano Bridget Esler and pianist Taige Wang
Just a little invention: Rachel Podger and Jane Rogers perform Bach
The pair performs Bach’s 15 Inventions: No. 8 in F Major, BWV 779, featured on a new album of duos
Just a little invention: Rachel Podger and Jane Rogers perform Bach
Pierre Fournier Award winner Annie Jacobs-Perkins presents a video from her new album
Violinist Yevgeny Kutik performs Ysaÿe Sonata for Solo Violin no.3
Pinchas Zukerman’s formative years explored in PBS documentary
Cellist Gabriel Cabezas performs Alyssa Weinberg’s ‘Pieces of Light’
‘The Final Bow’: documentary short exploring the fate of pernambuco
New video: ensemble132 performs Clara Schumann
‘Extraordinary depth and humanity’: 17-year-old cellist Daniel Dorn performs solo Bach
Watch: Yo-Yo Ma performs Bach during 9/11 ceremony in New York
12 Ensemble performs Arvo Pärt’s ‘Fratres’
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The Strad Calendar 2027: 1707 ‘Boni-Hegar’ Stradivari cello
A cello from Stradivari’s ’golden period, it is now played by Andreas Brantelid
The Liberty luthier: Nicola Utili
Stefano Pio examines the life and career of the early 20th-century Italian luthier Nicola Utili, who combined his natural skills in instrument making with a penchant for innovation and acoustic research
Making Matters: The curious case of Knute Reindahl’s 1905 violin
An impressively carved violin from 1905 led HyeonJeong Kim on a journey to discover more about its maker and dedicatee
The Strad Calendar 2027: c.1689 ‘Ragin’ Stradivari violin
An instrument from fairly early in Stradivari’s career, it still shows the influence of his mentor Nicolò Amati
My Space: Andrew Carruthers’s Santa Rosa workshop
The maker presents his Californian shop
Shaping the modern bow: Viotti and the Tourte bow
Debate has raged over the role of Giovanni Battista Viotti in the development of the Tourte-style bow. Markus Laine sifts through the evidence
The Strad Calendar 2027: 1707 ‘Boni-Hegar’ Stradivari cello
A cello from Stradivari’s ’golden period, it is now played by Andreas Brantelid
The Liberty luthier: Nicola Utili
Stefano Pio examines the life and career of the early 20th-century Italian luthier Nicola Utili, who combined his natural skills in instrument making with a penchant for innovation and acoustic research
Making Matters: The curious case of Knute Reindahl’s 1905 violin
An impressively carved violin from 1905 led HyeonJeong Kim on a journey to discover more about its maker and dedicatee
The Strad Calendar 2027: c.1689 ‘Ragin’ Stradivari violin
An instrument from fairly early in Stradivari’s career, it still shows the influence of his mentor Nicolò Amati
My Space: Andrew Carruthers’s Santa Rosa workshop
The maker presents his Californian shop
Shaping the modern bow: Viotti and the Tourte bow
Debate has raged over the role of Giovanni Battista Viotti in the development of the Tourte-style bow. Markus Laine sifts through the evidence
Festival round-up: Rencontres Musicales d’Évian
Charlotte Gardner reports on two days (1–2 July) of string-related highlights at the festival, which took place at Évian-les-Bains, France, from 24 June to 5 July
Concert review: Adrian Brendel (cello) Dénes Várjon (piano)
Janet Banks visits London’s Wigmore Hall on 12 July 2026 for the recital of Beethoven, Brahms, Kurtág and Dohnányi
Festival round-up: 2026 Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe
String players loomed large at this year’s Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe (7–31 August), as David Kettle discovered
Noé Inui: Bach
A finely balanced performance makes its mark
Adolf Busch: Bach, Handel, Mozart et al
Breathtaking Mozart and Bach from a golden-age violinist
Chiaroscuro Quartet: Beethoven
An ongoing Beethoven cycle continues to set a high bar
Book review: The Violin Maker’s Secret
Lauren Wesley-Smith reads Evie Woods’ novel following the search for a stolen violin – with some personification of the instrument itself
Book review: Duo Gems: Classics for Two Violins
Alex Laing peruses Jennifer Maslin’s book of 20 duet arrangements, by composers from Delibes and Bizet to Offenbach and Rachmaninoff
Book review: Liuteria Mantovana Vol.2
Alberto Giordano reviews the second in the three-volume series by Andrea Zanrè and Philip Kass that shines a light on the myriad violin makers based in the city of Mantua over the centuries
Debate
Opinion: the third ear
The most important musical ear a string player can develop might be the one that they can never physically possess themselves, says violinist, violist and teacher Alex Laing
Opinion: Playing with accompanists early on
Piano accompaniment is too often treated as an afterthought in teaching. Violinist Sendi Vartanovi argues that string students learn more effectively when collaboration begins from day one
Debate
Opinion: the third ear
The most important musical ear a string player can develop might be the one that they can never physically possess themselves, says violinist, violist and teacher Alex Laing
Opinion: Playing with accompanists early on
Piano accompaniment is too often treated as an afterthought in teaching. Violinist Sendi Vartanovi argues that string students learn more effectively when collaboration begins from day one
Festival round-up: Rencontres Musicales d’Évian
Charlotte Gardner reports on two days (1–2 July) of string-related highlights at the festival, which took place at Évian-les-Bains, France, from 24 June to 5 July
Concert review: Adrian Brendel (cello) Dénes Várjon (piano)
Janet Banks visits London’s Wigmore Hall on 12 July 2026 for the recital of Beethoven, Brahms, Kurtág and Dohnányi
Festival round-up: 2026 Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe
String players loomed large at this year’s Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe (7–31 August), as David Kettle discovered
Book review: The Violin Maker’s Secret
Lauren Wesley-Smith reads Evie Woods’ novel following the search for a stolen violin – with some personification of the instrument itself
Book review: Duo Gems: Classics for Two Violins
Alex Laing peruses Jennifer Maslin’s book of 20 duet arrangements, by composers from Delibes and Bizet to Offenbach and Rachmaninoff
Book review: Liuteria Mantovana Vol.2
Alberto Giordano reviews the second in the three-volume series by Andrea Zanrè and Philip Kass that shines a light on the myriad violin makers based in the city of Mantua over the centuries
Noé Inui: Bach
A finely balanced performance makes its mark
Adolf Busch: Bach, Handel, Mozart et al
Breathtaking Mozart and Bach from a golden-age violinist
Chiaroscuro Quartet: Beethoven
An ongoing Beethoven cycle continues to set a high bar
Artists
Great violinists: Niccolò Paganini
In a special feature marking The Strad’s 120th anniversary in May 2010, Julian Haylock examined perhaps the greatest violinist of them all
Sterling Elliott: coming full circle
The American cellist speaks with Lauren Wesley-Smith about his journey as a musician, the formative influence of the Sphinx Organization and finding his own voice in the digital age
‘Love what you do’: Antje Weithaas
Violinist Antje Weithaas talks to Pauline Harding about her varied career in teaching, performance and, most recently, conducting, which is carrying her in new and exciting directions as she approaches her 60th birthday
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