Playing Hub

Esther Yoo © Je Won Kim 3

Ma Sicong inspires a new violin concerto for Esther Yoo

2024-03-15T09:35:00+00:00

Ahead of a world premiere on 20 March, the violinist speaks to The Strad about Raymond Yiu’s Violin Concerto, which recalls the troubled life of Chinese musician Ma Sicong

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At GatherNYC, the only religion is music: Laura Metcalf and Rupert Boyd

2024-03-14T09:58:00+00:00

A concert series that promotes a sense of community, diversity and collaboration: founders cellist Laura Metcalf and guitarist Rupert Boyd outline why GatherNYC is a unique Sunday morning concert experience

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‘I don’t like standing still’ - Daniel Kidane on his new violin concerto for Julia Fischer

2024-03-13T09:43:00+00:00

British composer Daniel Kidane speaks to The Strad about writing his first violin concerto, inspired by his personal reactions to current political situations such as UK arts funding cuts and the war in Ukraine

LAURENCE LESSER. PHOTOGRAPHED BY WILLIAM STRUHS, JUNE 1978

Laurence Lesser’s musical heroes: a playlist

2024-03-12T09:54:00+00:00

Cellist Laurence Lesser shares some influential recordings from legendary artists that have impacted his six-decade-long career, which he has recently outlined in the March 2024 issue of The Strad

Alma Moodie with Carl Flesch

Who was violinist Alma Moodie?

2024-03-11T08:15:00+00:00

Australian-born violinist Alma Moodie was a celebrated performer in her day – a protégée of Carl Flesch who collaborated with many leading composers. However, her contribution to the violin canon has been largely forgotten, writes Tatjana Goldberg

Christopher_Hanulik_RWH28224 courtesy LA Phil

‘I like to run my section in a cooperative way’ - Christopher Hanulik’s Life Lessons

2024-03-11T08:05:00+00:00

The US double bassist on his early influences and lessons learnt from his nearly four decade-long principal position at the LA Philharmonic

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Premium ❘ Feature

Baby on board: string soloists share their parenting stories

2024-03-18T08:15:00+00:00

A life of performing, touring and rehearsing might seem impossible with a young child in tow – so how do so many soloists manage it? Catherine Nelson finds out, in this article from our May 2012 issue

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Premium ❘ Feature

Violin maker Otto Schünemann: A Romantic visionary

2024-03-13T09:31:00+00:00

Although Otto Schünemann’s violins were praised by everyone from Vuillaume to Sarasate, his name is barely recognised today. Clifford Hall tells the story of this idealistic luthier who strove to bring the glories of the Cremonese masters to 19th-century Germany

baby cartoon

Premium ❘ Feature

Baby on board: string soloists share their parenting stories

2024-03-18T08:15:00+00:00

A life of performing, touring and rehearsing might seem impossible with a young child in tow – so how do so many soloists manage it? Catherine Nelson finds out, in this article from our May 2012 issue

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Premium ❘ Focus

Postcard from Hong Kong: Musicus Fest

2024-03-04T08:05:00+00:00

Cross-cultural and intergenerational exchange is the engine that drives cellist Trey Lee’s Musicus Fest, as Thomas May discovered at its eleventh edition

Gidon Kremer cr Angie Kremer

Premium ❘ Focus

Sentimental Work: Gidon Kremer on Raminta Šerkšnytė’s ‘This too shall pass’

2024-02-26T08:05:00+00:00

For the Latvian violinist, Raminta Šerkšnytė’s 2021 composition This too shall pass is a multifaceted and liberating work in these challenging times

Competitions

HRH-Awards-Andrew-Byun-First-Prize-WFISC-2024-copyright-Gill-Heppell-Windsor-Festival

Canadian cellist wins the Windsor Festival International String Competition

2024-03-18T15:58:00+00:00

Andrew Byun receives a host of prizes including £5,000 and performance opportunities

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Windsor Festival International String Competition announces finalists for 2024

2024-03-15T10:01:00+00:00

Two cellists and a violinist will proceed to the final round on the evening of 15 March

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Prizes awarded at Belgium’s International Music Competition Triomphe de l’Art

2024-03-06T09:37:00+00:00

This year’s competition was dedicated to string instrumentalists aged 15 to 35 and chamber ensembles

Errollyn photo by Grant Smith 20220703_GCS_0033e

Premium ❘ News

Premiere of the Month: Errollyn Wallen on her new string quintet

2024-03-15T09:01:00+00:00

A new viola-focused quintet based on musical contrasts

[3] Viatores Quartet pc Deniz Tunçer

Premium ❘ News

Competitions, Awards and Appointments: March 2024

2024-02-21T09:40:33.92+00:00

The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests

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The Strad Podcast #113: Uncovering Ysaÿe’s lost works with violinist Philippe Graffin

2024-03-14T09:59:00+00:00

The violinist speaks about his efforts to bring Ysaÿe’s Poème concertant into the limelight

Performing at Spoleto USA - Bill Struhs bw

The Strad Podcast #112: making musical choices with violist and composer Jessica Meyer

2024-03-07T09:30:00+00:00

Believing the word ’improvisation’ to be a scary word for many classical musicians, Jessica calls for a simpler approach that will help musicians interpret both their own and others’ music

Michael Rieber _Kontrabass - Jewgeni Roppel HR-26 bw

The Strad Podcast #111: juggling orchestral and solo playing with double bassist Michael Rieber

2024-02-29T09:35:00+00:00

How do you find the time to release a solo album while holding a principal position in one of Europe’s top orchestras? The double bassist shares his strategies for effective practice and preparation

5. Alena Baeva (c) Jean-Baptiste Millot bw

The Strad Podcast #110: Stravinsky’s kaleidoscope of colours with violinist Alena Baeva

2024-02-22T08:35:00+00:00

Alena Baeva delves into the intricacies of Stravinsky’s Divertimento from The Fairy’s Kiss, which features on her latest recording

Competitons

HRH-Awards-Andrew-Byun-First-Prize-WFISC-2024-copyright-Gill-Heppell-Windsor-Festival

Canadian cellist wins the Windsor Festival International String Competition

2024-03-18T15:58:00+00:00

Andrew Byun receives a host of prizes including £5,000 and performance opportunities

WFISC-Finalists-3

Windsor Festival International String Competition announces finalists for 2024

2024-03-15T10:01:00+00:00

Two cellists and a violinist will proceed to the final round on the evening of 15 March

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Prizes awarded at Belgium’s International Music Competition Triomphe de l’Art

2024-03-06T09:37:00+00:00

This year’s competition was dedicated to string instrumentalists aged 15 to 35 and chamber ensembles

More from Lutherie

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Violin maker Otto Schünemann: A Romantic visionary

2024-03-13T09:31:00+00:00

Although Otto Schünemann’s violins were praised by everyone from Vuillaume to Sarasate, his name is barely recognised today. Clifford Hall tells the story of this idealistic luthier who strove to bring the glories of the Cremonese masters to 19th-century Germany

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Paganini’s ‘Il Cannone’ violin receives X-ray treatment

2024-03-12T11:47:00+00:00

The historic 1743 Guarneri ’del Gesú’ violin has been scanned by a particle accelerator in Grenoble in search for the secrets to its unique sound

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In Focus: An 1899 viola by Luigi Rovatti

2024-03-12T09:32:00+00:00

Lionnel Genovart looks at the Buenos Aires-based Italian luthier’s late-century instrument

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Making Matters: The ‘golden ratio’ in violin making

2024-03-12T09:30:00+00:00

Violin maker Wolfgang Schiele argues that the influence of the ‘golden ratio’ on painting, architecture and lutherie supports the idea of a perfect form for instruments

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Winner of 2024 German Musical Instrument Prize announced

2024-03-10T14:38:00+00:00

Heinrich Gill GmbH was named the recipient of the award in the opening ceremony of the akustika trade fair in Nuremberg on 8 March

Rode Strad 1722 from April 1985

From the Archive: Oscar Shumsky on the 'Pierre Rode' Stradivarius violin, 1715

2024-03-08T09:31:00+00:00

The violinist shared his thoughts on the instrument that belonged to both Pierre Rode and Leopold Auer, in our April 1985 issue

formosa

Concert review: Formosa Quartet, Hsin-Yun Huang (viola) Peter Wiley (cello)

2024-03-06T09:30:00+00:00By

Bruce Hodges hears the performance of Dvořák, Grappelli, Dana Wilson, Kazka and Haydn at the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, PA, US, on 3 December 2023

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Concert review: Musicians from Marlboro

2024-03-05T09:31:00+00:00By

Bruce Hodges hears the performance of Brahms, Vaughan Williams and Florence Price at the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, PA, US, on 6 December 2023

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Concert review: Antje Weithaas (violin) Enrico Pace (piano)

2024-03-04T08:00:00+00:00By

Carlos Maria Solare heads to Berlin’s Pierre Boulez Saal for a performance of Beethoven, Clara Schumann and Kurtág on 12 December 2023

Brahms Quatuor Agate

Agate Quartet: Brahms

2024-03-18T08:00:00+00:00By

Conviction aplenty from this rising young French quartet

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Mikhail Pochekin: Dvořák

2024-03-15T09:00:00+00:00By

Empathetic readings of Dvořák’s complete works for violin and orchestra

Vivaldi-De-Swarte

Théotime Langlois de Swarte: Vivaldi

2024-03-14T09:31:00+00:00By

Panache aplenty from a young master of the Baroque

Polish Violin

Book review: Polish Violin in the Musée de la Musique in Paris

2024-02-21T09:33:00+00:00By

Philip Brown reads through Jan Bartoś’ investigation into a mysterious instrument in the Paris museum’s collection, revealing the details that prove its Polish origins

Violin in Action

Book review: Violin in Action

2024-02-21T09:33:00+00:00By

Celia Cobb reviews Kristina Mirkovic’s four-volume course on violin playing, including books on scales, positions, and intervals and arpeggios

strings

Book review: Stringstastic: Double Bass

2024-01-24T10:04:48.843+00:00By

Eloise Riddell reviews Lorraine Chai’s two volumes of double bass theory books for younger students

Debate

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Opinion: Criticism in teaching

2024-02-19T08:05:00+00:00

Cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell explores the fine line between nagging and getting a point across by reminder and reinforcement, and suggests that a less verbal approach can often yield good results

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Opinion: Adjusting instrument necks for teenage players’ growing hands

2024-01-15T08:05:00+00:00

Bow maker Bernd Müsing believes that widening violin and viola necks could help young players, especially teenage boys, who find that there is no longer enough space between the strings for their growing fingertips

Debate

GettyImages-959525850

Opinion: Criticism in teaching

2024-02-19T08:05:00+00:00

Cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell explores the fine line between nagging and getting a point across by reminder and reinforcement, and suggests that a less verbal approach can often yield good results

Accessories

Artists

  • Esther Yoo © Je Won Kim 3

    Ma Sicong inspires a new violin concerto for Esther Yoo

    2024-03-15T09:35:00+00:00

    Ahead of a world premiere on 20 March, the violinist speaks to The Strad about Raymond Yiu’s Violin Concerto, which recalls the troubled life of Chinese musician Ma Sicong

  • LAURENCE LESSER. PHOTOGRAPHED BY WILLIAM STRUHS, JUNE 1978

    Laurence Lesser’s musical heroes: a playlist

    2024-03-12T09:54:00+00:00

    Cellist Laurence Lesser shares some influential recordings from legendary artists that have impacted his six-decade-long career, which he has recently outlined in the March 2024 issue of The Strad

  • Alma Moodie with Carl Flesch

    Who was violinist Alma Moodie?

    2024-03-11T08:15:00+00:00

    Australian-born violinist Alma Moodie was a celebrated performer in her day – a protégée of Carl Flesch who collaborated with many leading composers. However, her contribution to the violin canon has been largely forgotten, writes Tatjana Goldberg

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.