- News
- For Subscribers
- Student Hub
- Playing Hub
- Podcast
- 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
- Directory
- Contact us
- Subscribe
- Competitions
- Reviews
- Debate
- Artists
- Accessories
Session Report: violist Hiyoli Togawa on recording her new album, Children!
Masterclass: Erik Schumann on the Haydn ‘Sunrise’ Quartet, first movement
Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective: Transfigured
Vilém Vlček wins the 4th International Krzysztof Penderecki Cello Competition
Dextra Musica presents an instrument Advent calendar
Dextra Musica presents an instrument Advent calendar
The Christmas calendar features instruments from the foundation’s extensive collection
Winners announced at the Karol Lipiński International Violin Competition
Polish violinists dominated the top three places in the violin competition held in Wrocław
The Strad Calendar 2024: 1742 ‘Lord Wilton’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin
Best known as Yehudi Menuhin’s instrument for much of his career, the violin is still in an excellent state of preservation
Playing Hub
Cornerstones for violinists: the Australian violinist and teacher Alice Waten (1947-2022)
Joy Lee remembers the violin pedagogue and examines the principles and methodology behind her famed teaching
Telemann’s Viol Fantaisies on the viola
When a long-lost set of Telemann bass viol fantaisies was found in a private collection a few years ago, Mikhail ‘Misha’ Galaganov set about arranging them for the viola. Here he explores the history of the works and reveals some of the challenges he encountered in his quest
Dragonflies, monsoons and the Somali Jet inspire a new violin concerto for Johan Dalene
Swedish composer Tebogo Monnakgotla speaks to The Strad about how she went about writing her new concerto, which depicts the migration system of dragonflies across the Indian Ocean
The violin finals of the 2023 Long-Thibaud Competition: what we heard in the audience
Artist and writer Jonathon Brown attended the finals of the Long-Thibaud International Competition in Paris in November 2023 as a member of the press jury. He gives his impression of the five finalists’ varied and individual performances
Inheriting others’ pupils: a fresh start
Taking on other people’s ex-pupils can be a tricky business – especially when they come with ingrained unhealthy habits. Focusing on upper strings, Alun Thomas outlines what may need to be addressed to make progress
Life Lessons: Violinist Hilary Hahn
Adrenalin can be helpful, says the American violinist, but you should never forget the true reasons for performance
Premium ❘ Feature
Session Report: violist Hiyoli Togawa on recording her new album, Children!
Violist Hiyoli Togawa speaks to Carlos María Solare about her latest recording, Children!, which mixes new music with Bach and is based around the themes of childhood memories and family love
Premium ❘ Feature
My Space: Gianmaria Stelzer’s Zurich workshop
Take a peek into this workshop located in the Swiss city’s cultural quarter
Premium ❘ Feature
Session Report: violist Hiyoli Togawa on recording her new album, Children!
Violist Hiyoli Togawa speaks to Carlos María Solare about her latest recording, Children!, which mixes new music with Bach and is based around the themes of childhood memories and family love
Premium ❘ Focus
Postcard from Switzerland: Verbier Festival
Charlotte Gardner headed to the Swiss Alps for the Verbier Festival’s 30th-anniversary season where she was doubly dazzled by the combination of star players and the quality of the music-making
Premium ❘ Focus
Sentimental Work: Ilya Gringolts on Dvořák’s Romance in F minor
The Romance in F minor for violin and orchestra was the first piece by Dvořák that the Russian-born violinist ever played – and a passport into the composer’s unique harmonic sound world
Competitions
Vilém Vlček wins the 4th International Krzysztof Penderecki Cello Competition
First prize of PLN 80,000 (£16,000) was awarded to Czech cellist Vilém Vlček, along with the prize for the best concerto performance
Winners announced at the Karol Lipiński International Violin Competition
Polish violinists dominated the top three places in the violin competition held in Wrocław
Trio Basilea wins Swiss Chamber Music Competition
The piano trio received CHF5,000 at the national competition for up-and-coming string ensembles
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the month: Ailbhe McDonagh on her new string quartet
Irish folklore comes to life in a new quartet, which will be premiere on 6 December
![[4] Rilian Trio Photo Raoul Manuel Schnell copy](https://dnan0fzjxntrj.cloudfront.net/Pictures/460x307/2/1/5/32215_4riliantriophotoraoulmanuelschnellcopy_307958.jpg)
Premium ❘ News
Competitions, Awards and Appointments: December 2023
This month’s competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests
Masterclass: Erik Schumann on the Haydn ‘Sunrise’ Quartet, first movement
Erik Schumann, first violinist of the Schumann Quartet, looks at how a good structural understanding of the work’s first movement can lead to a more profound interpretation
Masterclass: Vadim Gluzman on Brahms’s Violin Sonata no.1
The Israeli violinist discusses why colour, shading and restraint are key in the first movement of this often-misinterpreted work.
Masterclass: Erik Schumann on the Haydn ‘Sunrise’ Quartet, first movement
Erik Schumann, first violinist of the Schumann Quartet, looks at how a good structural understanding of the work’s first movement can lead to a more profound interpretation
Masterclass: Vadim Gluzman on Brahms’s Violin Sonata no.1
The Israeli violinist discusses why colour, shading and restraint are key in the first movement of this often-misinterpreted work.
Masterclass: Dvořák Cello Concerto first movement
Cellist Hannah Roberts looks to subtlety and nuance in the quest to communicate this titan of the repertoire with mastery
The Strad Podcast #104: Brescia vs Cremona with luthier Linda Lespets
What was life like for instrument makers in Brescia? What was the making style like? Why hasn’t Brescia retained the same reputation as Cremona? Linda spotlights the home of Da Salò, Maggini and Rogeri
The Strad Podcast #103: adult learner mindset with violinist Rachael Ridge
Embracing gradual growth and progress, curiosity and a willingness to make mistakes is crucial for adults learning a musical instrument, says the violinist
The Strad Podcast #102: teaching students to teach themselves with cellist Laurence Lesser
In celebration of his 85th birthday and 50 years at the New England Conservatory, Laurence speaks about his teaching approaches, including valuable ’a-ha’ moments from throughout his career
The Strad Podcast #101: inside the Zemtsov viola dynasty with Dana and Mikhail Zemtsov
What’s it like being in a family where everyone plays the viola? The father and daughter duo share all
The Strad Podcast #104: Brescia vs Cremona with luthier Linda Lespets
What was life like for instrument makers in Brescia? What was the making style like? Why hasn’t Brescia retained the same reputation as Cremona? Linda spotlights the home of Da Salò, Maggini and Rogeri
The Strad Podcast #103: adult learner mindset with violinist Rachael Ridge
Embracing gradual growth and progress, curiosity and a willingness to make mistakes is crucial for adults learning a musical instrument, says the violinist
The Strad Podcast #102: teaching students to teach themselves with cellist Laurence Lesser
In celebration of his 85th birthday and 50 years at the New England Conservatory, Laurence speaks about his teaching approaches, including valuable ’a-ha’ moments from throughout his career
Competitons
Vilém Vlček wins the 4th International Krzysztof Penderecki Cello Competition
First prize of PLN 80,000 (£16,000) was awarded to Czech cellist Vilém Vlček, along with the prize for the best concerto performance
Winners announced at the Karol Lipiński International Violin Competition
Polish violinists dominated the top three places in the violin competition held in Wrocław
Trio Basilea wins Swiss Chamber Music Competition
The piano trio received CHF5,000 at the national competition for up-and-coming string ensembles
Ukrainian Poem for violin and piano by Yevhen Stankovych
The work is performed by violinist Christine Bernsted and pianist Elisabeth Holmegaard Nielsen
Ukrainian Poem for violin and piano by Yevhen Stankovych
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra performs ‘Allegro in Springtime’
María Dueñas performs the slow movement of the Beethoven Violin Concerto
John Dilworth repairs a violin that survived the Holocaust
Warren & Flick presents new violin and double bass duet ‘Three Forks of Cheat’
New documentary charts the success of TwoSet Violin
New video: cellist Alexander Hersh in ‘Absinthe II’
Video premiere: Brahms Violin Sonatas on authentic instruments
The Partridge Quartet performs ‘Black Angels’
Cellist Ophélie Gaillard salutes Neopolitan music with an outdoor Giga
- Previous
- Next
Dextra Musica presents an instrument Advent calendar
The Christmas calendar features instruments from the foundation’s extensive collection
The Strad Calendar 2024: 1742 ‘Lord Wilton’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin
Best known as Yehudi Menuhin’s instrument for much of his career, the violin is still in an excellent state of preservation
My Space: Gianmaria Stelzer’s Zurich workshop
Take a peek into this workshop located in the Swiss city’s cultural quarter
‘Music must be played, life must go on’: an update from Ukrainian violin maker Orest Putsentela
Educational outreach, Ukrainian-themed violin making and international musical communication are just some of the ways the luthier is promoting peace and connection during difficult times
Making Matters: Using local materials for violin making
Dutch luthier Geerten Verberkmoes details the process of making a violin using local materials from his home town of Bergen op Zoom, between October 2022 and May 2023
Lost Guarneri documents resurface after nearly a century
Florian Leonhard shares some insights from recent investigations of a freshly re-discovered volume of archives, which mainly focus on the presence of Andrea Guarneri (1623-1698) and his sons
Dextra Musica presents an instrument Advent calendar
The Christmas calendar features instruments from the foundation’s extensive collection
The Strad Calendar 2024: 1742 ‘Lord Wilton’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin
Best known as Yehudi Menuhin’s instrument for much of his career, the violin is still in an excellent state of preservation
My Space: Gianmaria Stelzer’s Zurich workshop
Take a peek into this workshop located in the Swiss city’s cultural quarter
‘Music must be played, life must go on’: an update from Ukrainian violin maker Orest Putsentela
Educational outreach, Ukrainian-themed violin making and international musical communication are just some of the ways the luthier is promoting peace and connection during difficult times
Making Matters: Using local materials for violin making
Dutch luthier Geerten Verberkmoes details the process of making a violin using local materials from his home town of Bergen op Zoom, between October 2022 and May 2023
Lost Guarneri documents resurface after nearly a century
Florian Leonhard shares some insights from recent investigations of a freshly re-discovered volume of archives, which mainly focus on the presence of Andrea Guarneri (1623-1698) and his sons
Concert review: Yo-Yo Ma (cello) New York Philharmonic/Jaap van Zweden, Philadelphia Orchestra/Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Leah Hollingsworth and Bruce Hodges review two concerts by the superstar cellist within the space of two days
Concert review: Danish Quartet, Jeremy Denk (piano)
Edward Bhesania hears the performance of Ligeti, Mozart and Schumann at London’s Wigmore Hall on 15 September 2023
Concert review: Chouchane Siranossian (violin) Leonardo García Alarcón (harpsichord) Balázs Máté (cello)
Tim Homfray hears the performance of Bach, Farina, Walther, Locatelli, Naregatsi and Schmelzer at London’s Wigmore Hall on 18 September 2023
Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective: Transfigured
A typically thoughtful programme from a rising chamber ensemble
Aisling O’Dea, Clea Friend: Almost Unseen
A meeting of minds in Scotland’s capital city
Anne Harvey-Nagl: Respighi, Strauss
Assured accounts of two demanding sonatas are let down by the acoustic
Book review: Tourte
Philip Kass reviews the long-awaited volume on the most important bow maker who ever lived
Book review: Maud Powell: Pioneer American Violinist
Tully Potter reviews the second edition of this landmark biography of the legendary US violinist
Book review: Two Violins, One Viola, a Cello and Me
Anne Inglis reviews the memoir of classical music agent Sonia Simmenauer, and her encounters with string quartets over the years
Debate
Opinion: How improvisation can help with perfectionism
Having discovered a love of improvisation during the pandemic, cellist Simone Seales believes that the practice can free classically trained musicians from a typically unhealthy fear of imperfection
Opinion: The benefits of rest for students
Cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell is often pleasantly surprised at how much progress can be made by students during a break from lessons
Debate
Opinion: How improvisation can help with perfectionism
Having discovered a love of improvisation during the pandemic, cellist Simone Seales believes that the practice can free classically trained musicians from a typically unhealthy fear of imperfection
Opinion: The benefits of rest for students
Cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell is often pleasantly surprised at how much progress can be made by students during a break from lessons
Accessories
Products December 2023: Instrumagic cello endpin
A cello endpin bejewelled for a more powerful sound
Products December 2023: Eenhar mute
A new mute made from animal horn
Products December 2023: Jargar Evoke cello strings
A new cello set for the company’s existing Evoke range
Concert review: Yo-Yo Ma (cello) New York Philharmonic/Jaap van Zweden, Philadelphia Orchestra/Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Leah Hollingsworth and Bruce Hodges review two concerts by the superstar cellist within the space of two days
Concert review: Danish Quartet, Jeremy Denk (piano)
Edward Bhesania hears the performance of Ligeti, Mozart and Schumann at London’s Wigmore Hall on 15 September 2023
Concert review: Chouchane Siranossian (violin) Leonardo García Alarcón (harpsichord) Balázs Máté (cello)
Tim Homfray hears the performance of Bach, Farina, Walther, Locatelli, Naregatsi and Schmelzer at London’s Wigmore Hall on 18 September 2023
Book review: Tourte
Philip Kass reviews the long-awaited volume on the most important bow maker who ever lived
Book review: Maud Powell: Pioneer American Violinist
Tully Potter reviews the second edition of this landmark biography of the legendary US violinist
Book review: Two Violins, One Viola, a Cello and Me
Anne Inglis reviews the memoir of classical music agent Sonia Simmenauer, and her encounters with string quartets over the years
Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective: Transfigured
A typically thoughtful programme from a rising chamber ensemble
Aisling O’Dea, Clea Friend: Almost Unseen
A meeting of minds in Scotland’s capital city
Anne Harvey-Nagl: Respighi, Strauss
Assured accounts of two demanding sonatas are let down by the acoustic
Artists
Beautiful and noble: Edgar Moreau on Haydn Cello Concerto in C
The French cellist shares his thoughts on this lively and spirited concerto, ahead of debut performances with the New York Philharmonic from 6 to 9 December
Life Lessons: Violinist Hilary Hahn
Adrenalin can be helpful, says the American violinist, but you should never forget the true reasons for performance
Practice Diary: cellist Hannah Roberts
The British cellist chooses her warm-up keys carefully before tackling the trickiest passages of Dvořák’s Concerto – leaving the best bits till last
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
