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18th-century violin stolen near Paris
New cello appointment at Georgia State University
Dave Soldier: how I completed Stuff Smith’s unfinished violin concerto
‘Literally the hardest thing I’ve ever had to learn to do’: Pedro Pascal to play cellist in upcoming film
Why did the violin stop thinking? The Renaissance, Japanese aesthetics and the search for sound
‘Literally the hardest thing I’ve ever had to learn to do’: Pedro Pascal to play cellist in upcoming film
The Chilean-American actor will star in Behemoth!, a drama about a family of Los Angeles musicians
New Zealand violinist Jenny Banks has died aged 42
The musician, who had been suffering from behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia, had been a tenured violinist with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
How do string players deal with extreme heat?
Air temperature management, understanding humidity levels, as well as hydration and clothing choices are crucial for string players as they and their instruments face extreme weather this summer. Davina Shum chats to string players on how they deal with sweltering conditions
Playing Hub
Postcard from California: Ojai Music Festival
Esa-Pekka Salonen’s California homecoming created a dialogue between European modernism and American experiment, as Thomas May discovered
Dave Soldier: how I completed Stuff Smith’s unfinished violin concerto
When jazz violin pioneer Stuff Smith left behind six minutes of themes for a concerto, composer Dave Soldier set out to complete what he had started. He shares how he transformed the fragment into a full-scale work while grappling with a central question: how do you finish a masterpiece without ...
‘A cellist who is essentially a one-man band’: Jessie Montgomery on writing for Abel Selaocoe
The composer discusses These Righteous Paths, her new concerto for the South African cellist, ahead of its UK premiere at the BBC Proms on 20 July and US premiere at Lincoln Center later this summer.
Reviving the Monster Concert: Julius Benedict’s epic musical legacy
Adrian Bradbury, artistic director of Music in the Burnhams, explores the history of ’the busiest musician in London’ famed for five-hour long concerts in Victorian society
From Argyll to Paxton: Rachel Campbell and Holli Scott’s journey in Scottish traditional music
Ahead of a performance at Music at Paxton, fiddle player Holli Scott reflects on how her Argyll roots continue to shape her music-making alongside duo partner Rachel Campbell
‘Decked in cowboy boots and hats’: Postcard from Texas
Estonian–American cellist Brendan Tarm reports back from the Fredericksburg Music Festival and School, where he participated in masterclasses with world-renowned cellists, attended their concerts and performed himself
Premium ❘ Feature
Jordi Savall: connections beyond words
The Catalan gambist and conductor Jordi Savall speaks with Michael White about his six decades of music making, the ideals that have guided his work and the future of the early music world he helped to shape
Premium ❘ Feature
Changing of the guard: French transitional period – part one
The ‘transitional period’ in French lutherie usually refers to the period of change from the Baroque bow to the Tourte model. In the first of two articles, Florent Boyer illustrates how violin making also underwent a seismic shift through the 18th century and into the 19th
Premium ❘ Feature
Jordi Savall: connections beyond words
The Catalan gambist and conductor Jordi Savall speaks with Michael White about his six decades of music making, the ideals that have guided his work and the future of the early music world he helped to shape
Premium ❘ Focus
Sentimental Work: Liya Petrova on the Walton Violin Concerto
William Walton’s Violin Concerto is a firm favourite in the Bulgarian violinist’s repertoire – even though she had only two weeks to learn it
Premium ❘ Focus
Opinion: Why memorisation is so vital
Cellist Hannah Roberts reflects on the value of memorising music, and why developing this skill can deepen understanding and strengthen communication in performance
Competitions
Winners announced for the 2026 Ysaÿe International Music Competition
US violinist Christina Nam wins €5,000 as well a concert engagement and the loan of a fine violin
Ten-year-old violinist wins 2026 Il Piccolo Violino Magico competition
Japanese violinist Yanai Mana receives a scholarship worth €7,000 and a Fabio Piagentini violin
Winners announced for the 2026 Tibor Junior International Violin Competition
17-year-old violinist Natalia Dragan receives the first prize of €5,000
Premium ❘ News
Competitions, Awards and Appointments: August 2026
The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: Baldwin Giang’s new work for the Jack Quartet
A new string quartet full of rhythms and grooves
Masterclass: Mozart Violin Sonata no.32 in B flat major, first movement
In a movement that evokes all the delightful quirks of a Mozart opera, it’s important to maintain a dialogue between violin and piano, says violinist Arnaud Sussmann
Masterclass: Chausson Poème for Violin and Orchestra op.25
Understanding the harmonic framework is key to making sense of Chausson’s fluid, freely structured Poème, says violinist Maria Włoszczowska
Masterclass: Mozart Violin Sonata no.32 in B flat major, first movement
In a movement that evokes all the delightful quirks of a Mozart opera, it’s important to maintain a dialogue between violin and piano, says violinist Arnaud Sussmann
Masterclass: Chausson Poème for Violin and Orchestra op.25
Understanding the harmonic framework is key to making sense of Chausson’s fluid, freely structured Poème, says violinist Maria Włoszczowska
Masterclass: Schubert Piano Trio no.2 in E flat major, first movement
David and Edgar Moreau dive into Schubert’s sound world, exploring colour, balance and the expressive detail that shapes their interpretation of this late work
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
Winners announced for the 2026 Ysaÿe International Music Competition
US violinist Christina Nam wins €5,000 as well a concert engagement and the loan of a fine violin
Ten-year-old violinist wins 2026 Il Piccolo Violino Magico competition
Japanese violinist Yanai Mana receives a scholarship worth €7,000 and a Fabio Piagentini violin
Winners announced for the 2026 Tibor Junior International Violin Competition
17-year-old violinist Natalia Dragan receives the first prize of €5,000
‘Literally the hardest thing I’ve ever had to learn to do’: Pedro Pascal to play cellist in upcoming film
The Chilean-American actor will star in Behemoth!, a drama about a family of Los Angeles musicians
‘Literally the hardest thing I’ve ever had to learn to do’: Pedro Pascal to play cellist in upcoming film
Combining virtuosity with opera: violinist Hannah Cho honours Vienna with Carmen Fantasie Brillante
Yo‑Yo Ma joins Kakuma refugee collective Exile Key for ‘Yelele Mama’
Teaser trailer drops for Singaporean animated film ‘The Violinist’
From prison to performance: new film spotlights violinist Christian Howes’s artistic transformation
A violinist and three cellists walk into a studio: Emerald Strings rethinks ‘Bolero’
After hours at Guildhall Art Gallery: Vilde Frang and Lawrence Power perform ‘Capricci’
Merging cello and voice: Nicolas Altstaedt and Anna-Lena Elbert perform ‘Ophelia’s Song’ by Shostakovich
Watch: a video performance from Timothy Ridout’s new album, Alto Appassionato
Woven from Light: a listening guide to a world premiere work for violin and cello
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Obituary: British luthier Colin Irving (1945–2025)
The instrument maker, who began as an engineer in the 1950s, became best known for his cellos
Changing of the guard: French transitional period – part one
The ‘transitional period’ in French lutherie usually refers to the period of change from the Baroque bow to the Tourte model. In the first of two articles, Florent Boyer illustrates how violin making also underwent a seismic shift through the 18th century and into the 19th
Why did the violin stop thinking? The Renaissance, Japanese aesthetics and the search for sound
Why do we value beauty, and where does it come from? Violin maker Yoshiharu Ito traces a path from Stradivari to Japanese concepts of shadow and impermanence in search of what the violin is still capable of becoming
Frank Kovanda: bow man to the stars
Frank Kovanda is acknowledged as one of America’s finest 20th-century bow makers. Gennady Filimonov tells his story and examines some examples of his work
My Space: Charlo Xuereb’s Marsaskala workshop
The luthier presents his Maltese shop
Learning the art of bow rehairing: the RAB Trust Bow Course
Held from 28 June to 2 July 2026, Libby Summers reports back from the inaugural RAB Trust Bow Course, where a cohort of students were hand-picked to learn the art of rehairing a bow from scratch
Obituary: British luthier Colin Irving (1945–2025)
The instrument maker, who began as an engineer in the 1950s, became best known for his cellos
Changing of the guard: French transitional period – part one
The ‘transitional period’ in French lutherie usually refers to the period of change from the Baroque bow to the Tourte model. In the first of two articles, Florent Boyer illustrates how violin making also underwent a seismic shift through the 18th century and into the 19th
Why did the violin stop thinking? The Renaissance, Japanese aesthetics and the search for sound
Why do we value beauty, and where does it come from? Violin maker Yoshiharu Ito traces a path from Stradivari to Japanese concepts of shadow and impermanence in search of what the violin is still capable of becoming
Frank Kovanda: bow man to the stars
Frank Kovanda is acknowledged as one of America’s finest 20th-century bow makers. Gennady Filimonov tells his story and examines some examples of his work
My Space: Charlo Xuereb’s Marsaskala workshop
The luthier presents his Maltese shop
Learning the art of bow rehairing: the RAB Trust Bow Course
Held from 28 June to 2 July 2026, Libby Summers reports back from the inaugural RAB Trust Bow Course, where a cohort of students were hand-picked to learn the art of rehairing a bow from scratch
Concert review: Leila Josefowicz (violin) Philadelphia Orchestra/Matthias Pintscher
Bruce Hodges hears the performance of John Williams, Copland and Matthias Pintscher himself, at Philadelphia’s Marian Anderson Hall on 1 May 2026
Concert review: Mark Steinberg (violin) Jonathan Biss (piano)
Bruce Hodges visits Philadelphia’s Perelman Theater on 7 May 2026 for the recital of Mozart violin sonatas
Concert review: Joseph Conyers (double bass) Philadelphia Orchestra/Naomi Woo
Bruce Hodges listens to the performance of Tan Dun, Caroline Shaw and Mozart, Hindemith and Bartók at Philadelphia’s Marian Anderson Hall on 9 May 2026
Alina Ibragimova: Beethoven
A long-standing partnership returns fruitfully to Beethoven
David Nadien: Beethoven, Franck, Mozart
A rare insight into a treasurable artist
Alla Maniera Italiana Quartet: Presumed Beethoven
Works of questionable authorship brought to life with lively musicianship
Book review: The Cello Who Loved Me
Janet Banks reads amateur US cellist George Sorensen’s account of taking up the instrument in his later years, and becoming good enough to play the Beatles’ Here Comes the Sun
Book review: Violin Culture in Britain 1870–1930: Music-making, Society, and the Popularity of Stringed Instruments
Robin Stowell reads Christina Bashford’s investigation into the explosion in the popularity of playing violin-family instruments in late Victorian and early 20th-century Britain
Book review: Music and Silence: The Passion and Protest of Pablo Casals
Pauline Harding and her daughter read a picture-book biography of the great 20th-century cellist, focusing on his lengthy slient protest against the Franco regime
Debate
Opinion: Period instruments aren’t just specialist tools
Benjamin Shute questions our assumptions about contemporary instrument set‑up and the idea that period instruments are merely specialist equipment
Opinion: Finding creativity in scales
Love them or hate them, scales are at the heart of string training. Violinist and teacher Mark Knight examines why, when approached correctly, they are the gateway to a world of expressive freedom
Debate
Opinion: Period instruments aren’t just specialist tools
Benjamin Shute questions our assumptions about contemporary instrument set‑up and the idea that period instruments are merely specialist equipment
Accessories
Products July 2026: Modacity practice app
A new app that acts as a practice companion for musicians
Products July 2026: Fiedler Sonowood double bass endpin
The endpin mirrors the properties of ebony
Products July 2026: BAM Bonbon case for ¾- and half-sized violins
The company has released a smaller version of its colourful range
Concert review: Leila Josefowicz (violin) Philadelphia Orchestra/Matthias Pintscher
Bruce Hodges hears the performance of John Williams, Copland and Matthias Pintscher himself, at Philadelphia’s Marian Anderson Hall on 1 May 2026
Concert review: Mark Steinberg (violin) Jonathan Biss (piano)
Bruce Hodges visits Philadelphia’s Perelman Theater on 7 May 2026 for the recital of Mozart violin sonatas
Concert review: Joseph Conyers (double bass) Philadelphia Orchestra/Naomi Woo
Bruce Hodges listens to the performance of Tan Dun, Caroline Shaw and Mozart, Hindemith and Bartók at Philadelphia’s Marian Anderson Hall on 9 May 2026
Book review: The Cello Who Loved Me
Janet Banks reads amateur US cellist George Sorensen’s account of taking up the instrument in his later years, and becoming good enough to play the Beatles’ Here Comes the Sun
Book review: Violin Culture in Britain 1870–1930: Music-making, Society, and the Popularity of Stringed Instruments
Robin Stowell reads Christina Bashford’s investigation into the explosion in the popularity of playing violin-family instruments in late Victorian and early 20th-century Britain
Book review: Music and Silence: The Passion and Protest of Pablo Casals
Pauline Harding and her daughter read a picture-book biography of the great 20th-century cellist, focusing on his lengthy slient protest against the Franco regime
Alina Ibragimova: Beethoven
A long-standing partnership returns fruitfully to Beethoven
David Nadien: Beethoven, Franck, Mozart
A rare insight into a treasurable artist
Alla Maniera Italiana Quartet: Presumed Beethoven
Works of questionable authorship brought to life with lively musicianship
Artists
Jordi Savall: connections beyond words
The Catalan gambist and conductor Jordi Savall speaks with Michael White about his six decades of music making, the ideals that have guided his work and the future of the early music world he helped to shape
Christian Tetzlaff: ‘Following the score is freedom’
German violinist Christian Tetzlaff has built a career defined by artistic independence. As he celebrates his 60th birthday, he speaks to Richard Bratby about the values that have shaped his musical life
Yehudi Menuhin 110th anniversary: music with friends
To mark the 110th anniversary of Yehudi Menuhin’s birth on 22 April 1916, Tully Potter presents an overview of the great violinist’s numerous chamber music partnerships and their recordings
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