All Focus articles
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FocusIlya Finkelshteyn: Playing the Domenico Montagnana ‘Farina’ cello 1730
Cellist Ilya Finkelshteyn shares his experience of playing the ’Farina’, the cover instrument of The Strad’s July 2025 issue and poster. He is principal cellist in the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, a faculty member of the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, and a frequent performer at the Mostly Mozart ...
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FocusMy experience: cellist Natalia Vilchis, Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University
’It’s been a journey, and a life-changing experience; not only in the academic regard, but also because you meet people who are going to be in your life for ever!’ says the cellist
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FocusMy experience: double bassist Marcelo Rodrigues, Royal Northern College of Music
’My favourite aspect of studying here has been the proximity to the professional world,’ says the double bassist
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FocusMy experience: violinist Guilherme Lourenço Reis, Academia Nacional Superior de Orquestra
’I feel much more confident after doing this course, as it’s very moulded to the reality of orchestras and auditions, even regarding solo repertoire,’ says the violinist
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FocusMy experience: cellist Tomos Christie, New Zealand School of Music
’It’s nice to be part of a motivated community. Everyone is on a similar journey, albeit at different stages, and that gives you a lot of hope,’ says the cellist
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FocusMagnificently special: Philippe Quint’s 1708 ‘Ruby’ Stradivari violin
Our May 2025 cover star describes the instrument as the ‘most extraordinary Strad’ he has played on
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FocusMy experience: violist Kirsten Wilbrandt Kjær, Royal Danish Academy of Music
’What’s quite special here is that you can define your own path, and for me, that’s been chamber music,’ says the violist
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FocusGreat violinists: Yehudi Menuhin
Julian Haylock examines the player whose openness and sincerity gave even lighter music a profound emotional resonance
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FocusMy experience: violinist Arieta Liatsi, Universität Mozarteum Salzburg
’It’s a super inspiring place, with many music festivals and concerts throughout the year, and Salzburg is also so pretty – like a fairytale cake!’ says the violinist
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FocusA queen and a goddess: Arabella Steinbacher on her violins
Our April 2025 issue cover artist discusses her bow and instruments
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FocusMy experience: violinist and fiddler Olivia Breen, Mike Block String Camp
’You get these crazy mashups of people who will never play together anywhere else, and your mind is just blown every set,’ says Breen
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FocusMy experience: cellist Findlay Spence, IMS Prussia Cove Masterclasses
’Prussia Cove was a chance for us to escape from the hectic touring lifestyle and go deeper into the music,’ says the cellist of the Fibonacci Quartet
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FocusMy experience: violist-composer Amani Sloley, Cremona International Music Academy and Festival
‘Even though we come from all these different places, we’re all just really big music nerds!’ says Sloley
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FocusMy experience: violist Gwen Ovshinsky, Allcomers Music: Strings in Greece
’We rehearse outdoors in a shaded mini-amphitheatre right by the sea. It’s incredibly beautiful,’ says the violist
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FocusMy experience: violist Claire Pass-Lanneau, ProQuartet
’When you want to do this for your whole career, hearing from someone who has done it for 40 years is very special,’ says the violist
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Focus‘An artist’s eye and an intuitive gift for communication’: tributes to violin maker George Stoppani
Colleagues Sam Zygmuntowicz, Colin Gough and Jim Woodhouse share their memories of the well-regarded British luthier and acoustician, who died on 25 December 2024
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FocusMy experience: cellist Cecilia Hoyt, Prague Summer Nights Young Artists Music Festival
‘There’s just this special energy that comes across the orchestra when you’re playing Don Giovanni where it was premiered,’ says the cellist, ‘I think everyone got goosebumps.’
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2025: 1717 ‘Windsor, Weinstein’ Stradivari violin
The first Stradivari violin to be given to the Canada Council’s Musical Instrument Bank, it remains in top-class condition
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Focus‘Planting seeds for my relationship with music’ - Hilary Hahn and the Suzuki method
As a former Suzuki student, violinist Hilary Hahn shares her earliest memories of lessons and how they shaped her into the musician she is now
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2025: 1730 ‘Newland’ Giovanni Francesco Celoniato cello
One of only eight cellos known to be made by the Turin-based luthier, it is named after Canadian cellist Christine Newland
