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Fitzwilliam Quartet violist steps down after 56 years
Book review: The Cellist’s Guide to Scales and Arpeggios: A Comprehensive, Systematic, Sequential Approach
Book review: The Fulton Collection: Collector’s Edition
Book review: Dragonscales: The Hero Levels: 25 Fantasy Etudes to Slay Evil
‘Through how many hands an instrument has to pass’ - From the archive: December 1904
‘Joachim-Ma’ Stradivari violin to appear at auction, estimated at $12-18 million
The 1714 violin from the maker’s Golden Period, that likely premiered the Brahms Violin Concerto, will be offered at auction by Sotheby’s for the first time in nearly a century
US violinist Charles Castleman donates his Stradivari to Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel
The violin from 1707 will be loaned to Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel associate artist Miclen LaiPang until the end of 2027
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra announces death of its leader, Laura Samuel
The violinist had led the ensemble since 2012 and was a founding member of the Belcea Quartet
Playing Hub
‘Savour every moment’ - violinist Sarah Chang’s life lessons
The US violinist reflects on the lessons learnt from her unique upbringing
Flying Blind: A conductor’s guide to taking an audition
As a self-proclaimed ’veteran of the audition wars,’ Leonard Slatkin shares his perspectives on how string players should best approach a blind orchestral audition
‘Education never stops’ - Joshua Bell’s life lessons
The American violinist discusses his varied experiences with teachers and the importance of learning from everyone
Celebrating Ethel Barns’ 150th anniversary: violinist, pianist and composer
Dr Nazrin Rashidova explores Ethel Barns’ work, achievements and prominence during her lifetime
Trusting yourself: Jessica Meyer on her career as a violist-composer
US correspondent Thomas May speaks with Jessica Meyer about the synergy that fuels the charismatic violist’s work as a composer and collaborator.
Sentimental Work: Harriet Krijgh on Rachmaninoff’s Cello Sonata
Rachmaninoff’s Cello Sonata presents a cornucopia of emotions for the Dutch cellist, with the beautiful third movement a particular highlight
Premium ❘ Feature
‘Through how many hands an instrument has to pass’ - From the archive: December 1904
Felix Herrmann reports on the violin making methods of Markneukirchen, and how the work is divided up among the neighbouring villages
Premium ❘ Feature
Trade Secrets: Repairing a bow stick
François Louant presents a method for attaching new wood to the stick at the frog end, when the original material is unsalvageable
Premium ❘ Feature
‘Through how many hands an instrument has to pass’ - From the archive: December 1904
Felix Herrmann reports on the violin making methods of Markneukirchen, and how the work is divided up among the neighbouring villages
Premium ❘ Focus
‘Education never stops’ - Joshua Bell’s life lessons
The American violinist discusses his varied experiences with teachers and the importance of learning from everyone
Premium ❘ Focus
Opinion: Solving issues with your students’ parents over coffee
When issues arise that aren’t easily solved during lesson time, cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell finds that taking a pupil’s parent or guardian out for a coffee and a chat on neutral territory can be time well spent
Competitions
Winners announced at the 2024 Mieczysław Wajnberg International Violin Competition
Romanian violinist Iohan Coman received the €10,000 first prize
Six violinists proceed to finals of the 2024 Mieczysław Wajnberg International Violin Competition
The finalists will perform a concerto by Prokofiev, Shostakovich or Wajnberg for the chance to win the top prize of €10,000
Semi-finalists announced for the for the 2024 Mieczysław Wajnberg International Violin Competition
Twelve violinists have progressed for the chance to win the top prize of €10,000 as the competition takes place this week
Premium ❘ News
Competitions, Awards and Appointments: December 2024
The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: Mark Simpson’s new viola concerto for Timothy Ridout
A viola concerto full of struggle yet fearlessness
Masterclass: Schubert ‘Death and the Maiden’ String Quartet, second movement
Violist of the Kuss Quartet William Coleman emphasises the importance of creating a narrative arc in this movement, which encompasses a journey of emotional ambivalence
Masterclass: Saint-Saëns Havanaise op.83
Violinist Max Baillie gives smart and efficient practice tips to showcase a piece for violin and orchestra that juxtaposes lyricism with virtuosic passagework
Masterclass: Schubert ‘Death and the Maiden’ String Quartet, second movement
Violist of the Kuss Quartet William Coleman emphasises the importance of creating a narrative arc in this movement, which encompasses a journey of emotional ambivalence
Masterclass: Saint-Saëns Havanaise op.83
Violinist Max Baillie gives smart and efficient practice tips to showcase a piece for violin and orchestra that juxtaposes lyricism with virtuosic passagework
Masterclass: Schubert Arpeggione Sonata on viola, first movement
Yuri Zhislin illustrates the importance of colour and harmony in a work renowned for its lyricism and technicality
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 at the 2024 Mieczysław Wajnberg International Violin Competition
Romanian violinist Iohan Coman received the €10,000 first prize
Six violinists proceed to finals of the 2024 Mieczysław Wajnberg International Violin Competition
The finalists will perform a concerto by Prokofiev, Shostakovich or Wajnberg for the chance to win the top prize of €10,000
Semi-finalists announced for the for the 2024 Mieczysław Wajnberg International Violin Competition
Twelve violinists have progressed for the chance to win the top prize of €10,000 as the competition takes place this week
Watch: Philharmonia Orchestra musicians play a festive string quintet
Philharmonia musicians perform one of Finland’s most popular Christmas carols, Jean Sibelius’s Julvisa
Watch: Philharmonia Orchestra musicians play a festive string quintet
Watch: New violin-playing robot specialises in Indian music
Verdi’s La Forza del Destino for double bass and piano
![Bach_fuga_Artwork[DIGITAL]](https://dnan0fzjxntrj.cloudfront.net/Pictures/270x180/0/7/0/37070_bach_fuga_artworkdigital_132645_crop.jpg)
Bach’s Fugue from Violin Sonata no.2… played on double bass!
Trailer: New Netflix documentary celebrates the NY Phil’s first full-time female musician
New video: Abel Selaocoe performs ‘calm and serene’ Bach
Jordan Bak plays the ‘Silver Leaf Fiddle’ by Andrew Carruthers
Lera Auerbach’s ‘T’filah’ performed by violinist Christine Bernsted
Violinist Jack Liebeck and La Jolla SummerFest Chamber Orchestra perform The Lark Ascending
![Bottesini_Artwork[DIGITAL]](https://dnan0fzjxntrj.cloudfront.net/Pictures/270x180/6/8/9/36689_bottesini_artworkdigital_876468_crop.jpg)
A Mendelssohn-inspired double bass performance from James Oesi
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- Next
‘Through how many hands an instrument has to pass’ - From the archive: December 1904
Felix Herrmann reports on the violin making methods of Markneukirchen, and how the work is divided up among the neighbouring villages
Trade Secrets: Repairing a bow stick
François Louant presents a method for attaching new wood to the stick at the frog end, when the original material is unsalvageable
The Weidhaas–Finkel bow making dynasty: an exclusive close-up look at the family’s output
In the December 2024 issue, Gennady Filimonov tells the story of the Weidhaas and Finkel bow making families. Here he examines several bows by three of the dynasty’s best-known archetiers
In Focus: A 1924 violin by János Spiegel
Zoltán Délczeg examines a 100-year-old instrument by Hungarian maker János Spiegel
My Space: Mensur Avdić’s Tuzla workshop
The maker presents his workshop in Bosnia & Herzegovina
The 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
‘Through how many hands an instrument has to pass’ - From the archive: December 1904
Felix Herrmann reports on the violin making methods of Markneukirchen, and how the work is divided up among the neighbouring villages
Trade Secrets: Repairing a bow stick
François Louant presents a method for attaching new wood to the stick at the frog end, when the original material is unsalvageable
The Weidhaas–Finkel bow making dynasty: an exclusive close-up look at the family’s output
In the December 2024 issue, Gennady Filimonov tells the story of the Weidhaas and Finkel bow making families. Here he examines several bows by three of the dynasty’s best-known archetiers
In Focus: A 1924 violin by János Spiegel
Zoltán Délczeg examines a 100-year-old instrument by Hungarian maker János Spiegel
My Space: Mensur Avdić’s Tuzla workshop
The maker presents his workshop in Bosnia & Herzegovina
The 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
Festival review: Rosendal Festival
Harriet Smith finds that rain certainly didn’t stop play at Leif Ove Andsnes’s inspiring annual Norwegian gathering from 7–11 August 2024
Concert review: Ava Bahari (violin) Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Santtu-Matias Rouvali
Andrew Mellor attends the performance of at Malmö Live Concert Hall in Sweden on 13 September 2024
Concert review: New York Philharmonic Ensembles
Leah Hollingsworth visits New York’s Merkin Concert Hall for the peformance of on 29 September 2024
Diotima Quartet: Bruckner, Klose
A master of the symphony turns inward to fine effect
Niek Baar: Bruch, Schumann
An unorthodox pairing proves compelling
Gabriel Schwabe: Beethoven
Newcomers to a crowded field enjoy partial success
Book review: The Cellist’s Guide to Scales and Arpeggios: A Comprehensive, Systematic, Sequential Approach
Janet Banks reviews Robert Jesselson and Teddy Buchholz’s system for practising cello scales and arpeggios
Book review: The Fulton Collection: Collector’s Edition
John Dilworth reviews a revised and updated version of the 2022 publication, now with an extra volume covering David Fulton’s bow collection
Book review: Dragonscales: The Hero Levels: 25 Fantasy Etudes to Slay Evil
Alex Laing reviews the violin and viola versions of Nick Revel’s innovative etude series, combining practice studies with a fantasy adventure game
Debate
Opinion: Solving issues with your students’ parents over coffee
When issues arise that aren’t easily solved during lesson time, cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell finds that taking a pupil’s parent or guardian out for a coffee and a chat on neutral territory can be time well spent
Opinion: Practising scales in sequential order
While most string players agree that scales and arpeggios are the basic building blocks for good technique, cellist Robert Jesselson says that it’s essential to practise them sequentially to gain the maximum benefit
Debate
Opinion: Solving issues with your students’ parents over coffee
When issues arise that aren’t easily solved during lesson time, cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell finds that taking a pupil’s parent or guardian out for a coffee and a chat on neutral territory can be time well spent
Opinion: Practising scales in sequential order
While most string players agree that scales and arpeggios are the basic building blocks for good technique, cellist Robert Jesselson says that it’s essential to practise them sequentially to gain the maximum benefit
Accessories
Products December 2024: Larsen Aurora viola strings
Viola strings complete an affordable range
Products December 2024: Arcofrog Peled Bowpen
A new product to help with right hand technique
Products December 2024: Instru Mate instrument finder
A new product to help with finding your instrument
Festival review: Rosendal Festival
Harriet Smith finds that rain certainly didn’t stop play at Leif Ove Andsnes’s inspiring annual Norwegian gathering from 7–11 August 2024
Concert review: Ava Bahari (violin) Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Santtu-Matias Rouvali
Andrew Mellor attends the performance of at Malmö Live Concert Hall in Sweden on 13 September 2024
Concert review: New York Philharmonic Ensembles
Leah Hollingsworth visits New York’s Merkin Concert Hall for the peformance of on 29 September 2024
Book review: The Cellist’s Guide to Scales and Arpeggios: A Comprehensive, Systematic, Sequential Approach
Janet Banks reviews Robert Jesselson and Teddy Buchholz’s system for practising cello scales and arpeggios
Book review: The Fulton Collection: Collector’s Edition
John Dilworth reviews a revised and updated version of the 2022 publication, now with an extra volume covering David Fulton’s bow collection
Book review: Dragonscales: The Hero Levels: 25 Fantasy Etudes to Slay Evil
Alex Laing reviews the violin and viola versions of Nick Revel’s innovative etude series, combining practice studies with a fantasy adventure game
Diotima Quartet: Bruckner, Klose
A master of the symphony turns inward to fine effect
Niek Baar: Bruch, Schumann
An unorthodox pairing proves compelling
Gabriel Schwabe: Beethoven
Newcomers to a crowded field enjoy partial success
Artists
Violinist Ning Feng: Truth and substance
There is seemingly nothing the Chinese-born, Berlin‑based violinist Ning Feng can’t do, from dazzling Paganini interpretations to Bach to 20th‑century concertos. He talks to Michael White about his influences, his future plans and his desire to pass on his musical wisdom to the next generation
‘Not bad’ meant ‘Very, very good!’: what was Leonid Kogan like as a violin teacher?
The distinguished French violinist and quartet leader Isabelle Flory studied with Leonid Kogan at the Moscow Conservatoire for three years. She shares her memories of his teaching methods
Kristin Lee: ‘Violin gave me an identity that wasn’t established through the colour of my skin’
The violinist speaks about how her experiences as a foreign-born citizen of the US laid the groundwork for her new album American Sketches, which features diverse repertoire from the country she now calls home
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