Cellist David Watkin

British cellist David Watkin has died aged 60

14 May 2025

The respected musician had been forced to give up his playing career due to an auto-immune condition

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US classical musicians defend free speech in open letter

12 May 2025

The signatories include several soloists and members of leading orchestras across the US

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Petition launched to protest Newark Violin Making School changes

9 May 2025

The school has announced that the degree programme will not be commencing for first-year students in the 2025-26 academic year

Playing Hub

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Eusebius Quartet: what do the Elgar and Fauré String Quartets have in common?

15 May 2025

The British ensemble shares its thoughts on the pairing of works by Elgar and Fauré, ahead of its upcoming album release on 16 May

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Stress is our friend, not our foe: how to manage stress to perform at your best

13 May 2025

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

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Concerti in time of war: Double bass virtuoso James VanDemark premieres two new works by Ukrainian composers

13 May 2025

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

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Music between friends: Sheku Kanneh-Mason on his new album, ‘Shostakovich & Britten’

9 May 2025

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. 

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‘Curiosity is at the core of human nature’ - Roberto Díaz’s life lessons

9 May 2025

The US–Chilean violist and director of the Curtis Institute of Music discusses the importance of technique and curiosity

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‘We hope this unjust penalising of ’cellists will disappear’ - From the archive: May 1925

9 May 2025

Not planes but trains: a century ago, cellists were up in arms about railway operators charging extra to allow instruments on board. Pedagogue Carl Fuchs reveals the result of the latest petition

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Premium ❘ Feature

Trade Secrets: Replacement of pearl eyes in a bow

16 May 2025

Sarah Bystrom shares a method for a common task in bow restoration that respects the intention and style of the maker

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Premium ❘ Feature

The power of three: the string trio

16 May 2025

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

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Premium ❘ Focus

Opinion: Becoming a ‘bowist’

25 April 2025

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

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Premium ❘ Focus

Postcard from Gateshead: Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competitions

16 April 2025

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

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Cello winners announced for Prague Spring International Music Competition

16 May 2025

27-year-old Japanese cellist Yuya Mizuno won first prize, plus special prizes including future concert opportunities

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Winners announced for Markneukirchen International Instrumental Competition for Violin

16 May 2025

17-year-old Corina Deng took the top prize of €7,000, a future concert engagement, plus multiple string accessories

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2025 Fischoff Competition winners announced

13 May 2025

The Katarina Quartet from the Juilliard School scooped the grand prize of $15,000 as well as topping the senior string division

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Premium ❘ News

Competitions, Awards and Appointments: May 2025

2 May 2025

The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests

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The Strad Podcast: How to tailor the Suzuki Method to different students with violinist Meghan Faw

19 September 2024

The violinist shares her personal experiences with the method as both a student and a teacher

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The Strad Podcast: How to hold a masterclass with violinist Paul Huang

12 September 2024

The violinist speaks about his teaching approaches in a unique learning experience, in the third part of our four-part education-themed podcast series

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The Strad Podcast: How to teach collaborative skills with violinist Annie Fullard of the Cavani Quartet

5 September 2024

‘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

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The Strad Podcast: How to practise effectively with violinist Ray Chen

29 August 2024

The first in our new four-part education themed podcast series features our September 2024 cover star

Competitions

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Cello winners announced for Prague Spring International Music Competition

16 May 2025

27-year-old Japanese cellist Yuya Mizuno won first prize, plus special prizes including future concert opportunities

NEW (27)

Winners announced for Markneukirchen International Instrumental Competition for Violin

16 May 2025

17-year-old Corina Deng took the top prize of €7,000, a future concert engagement, plus multiple string accessories

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2025 Fischoff Competition winners announced

13 May 2025

The Katarina Quartet from the Juilliard School scooped the grand prize of $15,000 as well as topping the senior string division

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Gallery: ‘Save Newark Violin Making School’ challenge goes viral

16 May 2025

The petition in support of the Newark School of Musical Instrument Crafts has reached almost 10,000 signatures

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Trade Secrets: Replacement of pearl eyes in a bow

16 May 2025

Sarah Bystrom shares a method for a common task in bow restoration that respects the intention and style of the maker

Screenshot 2025-05-09 184509

Petition launched to protest Newark Violin Making School changes

9 May 2025

The school has announced that the degree programme will not be commencing for first-year students in the 2025-26 academic year

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No degree course for Newark School of Violin Making students beginning in 2025

9 May 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

ESPI SETUP

Hard and fast rules: tonewood selection

9 May 2025

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

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My Space: Wai Yong Tham’s Singapore workshop

9 May 2025

Explore the home workshop near the centre of Singapore

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Concert review: Helen Kim (violin) Seattle Symphony/Sunny Xia

6 May 2025

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

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Concert review: Owls, Claire Chase (flute)

25 April 2025By

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

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Concert review: Hilary Hahn (violin) Amaryn Olmeda (violin) Seth Parker Woods (cello) Conor Hanick (piano) Tiler Peck (choreographer, ballerina) India Bradley, Roman Mejia (dancers)

25 April 2025By

Leah Hollingsworth watches an innovative balletic performance with music by Max Richter, Jessie Montgomery, Carlos Simon, Ysaÿe and Bach at the Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall, New York, on 27 February 2025

Modern Times

Pantoum Trio: Modern Times

16 May 2025By

A fearless recording debut from an exciting young trio

Bach Phantasm

Phantasm: Bach

16 May 2025By

A viol consort proves an ideal protagonist for Bach

Beethoven Sammons

Albert Sammons: Beethoven, Coleridge-Taylor, Franck, Grieg, Ireland

16 May 2025By

Musical greatness shines through, despite abridged recordings

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Book review: The Schubert Treatment: A Story of Music and Healing

16 May 2025By

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

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Book review: Notes for Cellists: A Guide to the Repertoire

16 May 2025By

Lauren Wesley-Smith reads Miranda Wilson’s detailed guide to the cello repertoire

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Book review: Violin in Action Baby: Preparatory Violin Course

16 May 2025By

Mathew Lee reads Kristina Mirkovic’s method for teaching very young children, a companion volume to her ‘Violin in Action’ series

Debate

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Opinion: Becoming a ‘bowist’

25 April 2025

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

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Opinion: The importance of repetition in teaching

28 March 2025

In the practice of teaching, the value and beauty of repetition must always be encouraged, says violinist and pioneering Suzuki pedagogue Helen Brunner

Debate

GettyImages-2204810455

Opinion: Becoming a ‘bowist’

25 April 2025

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

0549

Opinion: The importance of repetition in teaching

28 March 2025

In the practice of teaching, the value and beauty of repetition must always be encouraged, says violinist and pioneering Suzuki pedagogue Helen Brunner

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