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Balourdet Quartet to take up Seattle residency
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra appoints principal double bass
Concert review: Pablo Ferrández (cello), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Domingo Hindoyan
Viola winners announced for Markneukirchen International Instrumental Competition
Long-standing principal bassist of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic to retire
British cellist David Watkin has died aged 60
The respected musician had been forced to give up his playing career due to an auto-immune condition
US classical musicians defend free speech in open letter
The signatories include several soloists and members of leading orchestras across the US
Petition launched to protest Newark Violin Making School changes
The school has announced that the degree programme will not be commencing for first-year students in the 2025-26 academic year
Playing Hub
Celebrating 20 years of Ensemble 360
Founding member of Ensemble 360 Tim Horton shares how programming for upcoming appearances at the Sheffield Chamber Music Festival is a reflection on the group’s musical journey and evolution over the last 20 years
Eusebius Quartet: what do the Elgar and Fauré String Quartets have in common?
The British ensemble shares its thoughts on the pairing of works by Elgar and Fauré, ahead of its upcoming album release on 16 May
Stress is our friend, not our foe: how to manage stress to perform at your best
Cellist and researcher Joanna Latała encourages positively reframing the feeling of stress, and offers strategies on how to transform it into a force for growth and success
Concerti in time of war: Double bass virtuoso James VanDemark premieres two new works by Ukrainian composers
In a powerful convergence of musical collaboration and cultural solidarity, James VanDemark premieres a pair of concerti he has commissioned from Ukrainian composers Maksim Kolomiiets and Mykhailo Shved
Music between friends: Sheku Kanneh-Mason on his new album, ‘Shostakovich & Britten’
The British cellist speaks to The Strad about his deeply personal new album, the influence of Rostropovich and the emotional extremes that keep him returning to this music.
‘Curiosity is at the core of human nature’ - Roberto Díaz’s life lessons
The US–Chilean violist and director of the Curtis Institute of Music discusses the importance of technique and curiosity
Premium ❘ Feature
Trade Secrets: Replacement of pearl eyes in a bow
Sarah Bystrom shares a method for a common task in bow restoration that respects the intention and style of the maker
Premium ❘ Feature
The power of three: the string trio
Jacqueline Vanasse explores the unique properties of the string trio, delving into its history and repertoire with the guidance of some of today’s top trio players
Premium ❘ Feature
Trade Secrets: Replacement of pearl eyes in a bow
Sarah Bystrom shares a method for a common task in bow restoration that respects the intention and style of the maker
Premium ❘ Focus
Opinion: Becoming a ‘bowist’
Violinist and teacher Alun Thomas explains why, when working on our technique and expression, string players should focus much more attention to the right arm than we might at first imagine
Premium ❘ Focus
Postcard from Gateshead: Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competitions
Tully Potter attended the 2025 editions of the Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competitions – held for the first time under one roof in the north-east of England – and he couldn’t fault the results
Competitions
Results announced for the Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Making Competition
Polish luthier Paweł Kubacka scooped a total of €24,000 for winning first and second prize
Viola winners announced for Markneukirchen International Instrumental Competition
23-year-old violist Carla Usberti won first prize of €7,000, a future concert engagement, plus multiple string accessories
Cello winners announced for Prague Spring International Music Competition
27-year-old Japanese cellist Yuya Mizuno won first prize, plus special prizes including future concert opportunities
Premium ❘ News
Competitions, Awards and Appointments: May 2025
The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: Anna Thorvaldsdóttir’s cello concerto for Johannes Moser
A new cello concerto balances chaos and calmness
Masterclass: Mozart Violin Concerto no.4 in D major, first movement
Remembering that Mozart was an opera composer and understanding harmonies are the keys to bringing out the various characters in this work, says violinist Tobias Feldmann
Masterclass: Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto no.3 in B minor, first movement
Violinist Benjamin Beilman explores how to navigate the athletic virtuosity of a work that requires the soloist to have firm technical and musical command
Masterclass: Mozart Violin Concerto no.4 in D major, first movement
Remembering that Mozart was an opera composer and understanding harmonies are the keys to bringing out the various characters in this work, says violinist Tobias Feldmann
Masterclass: Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto no.3 in B minor, first movement
Violinist Benjamin Beilman explores how to navigate the athletic virtuosity of a work that requires the soloist to have firm technical and musical command
Masterclass: Schumann Five Pieces in Folk Style op.102, first piece
Cellist Trey Lee shares how a particular painting in London’s National Gallery provided his inspiration for this movement, which can be seen as a metaphor for life
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 Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Making Competition
Polish luthier Paweł Kubacka scooped a total of €24,000 for winning first and second prize
Viola winners announced for Markneukirchen International Instrumental Competition
23-year-old violist Carla Usberti won first prize of €7,000, a future concert engagement, plus multiple string accessories
Cello winners announced for Prague Spring International Music Competition
27-year-old Japanese cellist Yuya Mizuno won first prize, plus special prizes including future concert opportunities
Yevgeny Kutik performs Dvořák’s ‘Going Home’ for solo violin
Who needs the full symphony orchestra when you can play the whole thing on one violin?
Yevgeny Kutik performs Dvořák’s ‘Going Home’ for solo violin
‘More powerful and relevant than ever’ - violinist Charles Yang performs a moving encore
Anzû Quartet performs Ken Thomson’s ‘Uneasy’
New video: Abel Selaocoe performs Takamba
Violin x gaming: Esther Abrami performs music from Final Fantasy XV
Ariel Quartet performs Beethoven String Quartet op.18, no.5
New video: ‘Dear Mountains’ by Karen Ouzounian and Lembit Beecher
Bryan Cheng performs Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto no.1
Jack Liebeck and Alexander Sitkovetsky chat about Arnold’s double violin concerto
Cellist Philipp Schupelius performs an improv-inspired cadenza
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- Next
Gallery: ‘Save Newark Violin Making School’ challenge goes viral
The petition in support of the Newark School of Musical Instrument Crafts has reached almost 10,000 signatures
Trade Secrets: Replacement of pearl eyes in a bow
Sarah Bystrom shares a method for a common task in bow restoration that respects the intention and style of the maker
Petition launched to protest Newark Violin Making School changes
The school has announced that the degree programme will not be commencing for first-year students in the 2025-26 academic year
No degree course for Newark School of Violin Making students beginning in 2025
In a shock move, the school has informed foundation-year students that they will not be progressing to the degree course in the 2025–26 academic year
Hard and fast rules: tonewood selection
What should luthiers look for when selecting spruce for their next violin top? Jiri Povolny examines the variables and discovers some useful guidelines to take out the guesswork
My Space: Wai Yong Tham’s Singapore workshop
Explore the home workshop near the centre of Singapore
Gallery: ‘Save Newark Violin Making School’ challenge goes viral
The petition in support of the Newark School of Musical Instrument Crafts has reached almost 10,000 signatures
Trade Secrets: Replacement of pearl eyes in a bow
Sarah Bystrom shares a method for a common task in bow restoration that respects the intention and style of the maker
Petition launched to protest Newark Violin Making School changes
The school has announced that the degree programme will not be commencing for first-year students in the 2025-26 academic year
No degree course for Newark School of Violin Making students beginning in 2025
In a shock move, the school has informed foundation-year students that they will not be progressing to the degree course in the 2025–26 academic year
Hard and fast rules: tonewood selection
What should luthiers look for when selecting spruce for their next violin top? Jiri Povolny examines the variables and discovers some useful guidelines to take out the guesswork
My Space: Wai Yong Tham’s Singapore workshop
Explore the home workshop near the centre of Singapore
Concert review: Pablo Ferrández (cello), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Domingo Hindoyan
Davina Shum reports back from a rare appearance of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra at London’s Barbican, which featured soloist Pablo Ferrández performing Elgar’s Cello Concerto
Concert review: Helen Kim (violin) Seattle Symphony/Sunny Xia
US correspondent Thomas May attends a boldy engaging interpretation of Vivaldi’s inescapable classic featuring Seattle Symphony associate concertmaster Helen Kim at Benaroya Hall on 1 May 2025
Concert review: Owls, Claire Chase (flute)
Leah Hollingsworth hears the performance of Wiancko, Barber, Franghiz Ali-Zadeh and Terry Riley at 92NY, Kaufmann Concert Hall, New York, on 8 February 2025
Pantoum Trio: Modern Times
A fearless recording debut from an exciting young trio
Phantasm: Bach
A viol consort proves an ideal protagonist for Bach
Albert Sammons: Beethoven, Coleridge-Taylor, Franck, Grieg, Ireland
Musical greatness shines through, despite abridged recordings
Book review: The Schubert Treatment: A Story of Music and Healing
Anne Inglis gives her thoughts on cellist Claire Oppert’s book detailing her experiences of how music can transform the lives of dementia patients and autistic children
Book review: Notes for Cellists: A Guide to the Repertoire
Lauren Wesley-Smith reads Miranda Wilson’s detailed guide to the cello repertoire
Book review: Violin in Action Baby: Preparatory Violin Course
Mathew Lee reads Kristina Mirkovic’s method for teaching very young children, a companion volume to her ‘Violin in Action’ series
Debate
Opinion: Becoming a ‘bowist’
Violinist and teacher Alun Thomas explains why, when working on our technique and expression, string players should focus much more attention to the right arm than we might at first imagine
Opinion: The importance of repetition in teaching
In the practice of teaching, the value and beauty of repetition must always be encouraged, says violinist and pioneering Suzuki pedagogue Helen Brunner
Debate
Opinion: Becoming a ‘bowist’
Violinist and teacher Alun Thomas explains why, when working on our technique and expression, string players should focus much more attention to the right arm than we might at first imagine
Opinion: The importance of repetition in teaching
In the practice of teaching, the value and beauty of repetition must always be encouraged, says violinist and pioneering Suzuki pedagogue Helen Brunner
Accessories
Products May 2025: BAM Iconic violin case
BAM presents a case collaboration with David Garrett
Products May 2025: Stradpet Caterpillar shoulder rest
Stradpet releases a shoulder rest than can be disassembled
Products May 2025: Electroharmonix Pico 360+ looper pedal
Electroharmonix’s new pedal comes in a compact design
Concert review: Pablo Ferrández (cello), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Domingo Hindoyan
Davina Shum reports back from a rare appearance of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra at London’s Barbican, which featured soloist Pablo Ferrández performing Elgar’s Cello Concerto
Concert review: Helen Kim (violin) Seattle Symphony/Sunny Xia
US correspondent Thomas May attends a boldy engaging interpretation of Vivaldi’s inescapable classic featuring Seattle Symphony associate concertmaster Helen Kim at Benaroya Hall on 1 May 2025
Concert review: Owls, Claire Chase (flute)
Leah Hollingsworth hears the performance of Wiancko, Barber, Franghiz Ali-Zadeh and Terry Riley at 92NY, Kaufmann Concert Hall, New York, on 8 February 2025
Book review: The Schubert Treatment: A Story of Music and Healing
Anne Inglis gives her thoughts on cellist Claire Oppert’s book detailing her experiences of how music can transform the lives of dementia patients and autistic children
Book review: Notes for Cellists: A Guide to the Repertoire
Lauren Wesley-Smith reads Miranda Wilson’s detailed guide to the cello repertoire
Book review: Violin in Action Baby: Preparatory Violin Course
Mathew Lee reads Kristina Mirkovic’s method for teaching very young children, a companion volume to her ‘Violin in Action’ series
Pantoum Trio: Modern Times
A fearless recording debut from an exciting young trio
Phantasm: Bach
A viol consort proves an ideal protagonist for Bach
Albert Sammons: Beethoven, Coleridge-Taylor, Franck, Grieg, Ireland
Musical greatness shines through, despite abridged recordings
Artists
Music between friends: Sheku Kanneh-Mason on his new album, ‘Shostakovich & Britten’
The British cellist speaks to The Strad about his deeply personal new album, the influence of Rostropovich and the emotional extremes that keep him returning to this music.
Great violinists: Yehudi Menuhin
Julian Haylock examines the player whose openness and sincerity gave even lighter music a profound emotional resonance
Cellist Zara Nelsova: A sound from a dream
The Canadian-born cellist Zara Nelsova was a fierce advocate for the repertoire she loved and for four decades an inspirational teacher at the Juilliard School. Oskar Falta explores her life and remarkable career, and hears from some of the musicians who studied with her
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