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Obituary: violist Karen Ritscher (1952-2025)

16 July 2025

The influential violist had a wide-ranging career in performance and academia, with a special interest in movement and self-expression as a champion of Karen Tuttle’s coordination approach

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Latvian cellist Marta Sudraba has died

15 July 2025

The cellist, who was a member of Kremerata Baltica since 1997, was 50

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Memories of János Starker: Hamilton Cheifetz

4 July 2025

Celebrating the anniversary of János Starker’s birth on 5 July, cellist Hamilton Cheifetz shares cherished lessons and memories of his former teacher

Playing Hub

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Two Czech pieces you should know: violinist Kryštof Kohout

23 July 2025

Kryštof Kohout unearths two pieces by Czech composers Luboš Fišer and Váša Příhoda, ahead of their London premieres at Wigmore Hall

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'If you play without mistake I will make you a present' - From the Archive: August 1905

22 July 2025

A reminiscence (possibly apocryphal) of the renowned Scottish fiddler Niel Gow (1727–1807), composer of more than 80 dance tunes

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Letters from Lony: how letters from an Auschwitz victim became the subject for a chamber work

22 July 2025

Ronald Corps’ setting of Lony Fraenkel’s letters to her family during World War II will be performed at the Three Choirs Festival on 1 August

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An avalanche of memories: Álvaro Bitrán remembers János Starker

21 July 2025

The cellist of the Latin American Quartet shares memories of tough love and camaraderie with his former teacher, who died in 2013

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‘A dream finally realised’: Rachel Barton Pine on recording French chamber works with old friends

18 July 2025

The violinist discusses long-standing musical friendships, the lyrical intensity of Chausson’s Concert and the overlooked brilliance of Germaine Tailleferre.

Concert des finalistes Opus 13 2 © MC Monin 2025

Postcard from France: Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition

18 July 2025

At the 2025 edition of the triennial Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition, Charlotte Gardner was delighted to hear a dazzlingly high standard of music making

2. Rachel Podger - Brecon Baroque (c) Andrew Staples

Premium ❘ Feature

Session Report: Violinist Rachel Podger on recording Biber sonatas

25 July 2025

Violinist Rachel Podger tells Peter Quantrill about her new recording of Biber sonatas, and how the music has both a sense of the unexpected and the power to soothe and delight

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Premium ❘ Feature

Teaching lutherie in Latin America: sowing the seeds for success

25 July 2025

Peter Somerford explores how an instrument repair initiative, set up by the Latin American youth orchestra venture Iberorquestas and violin maker Lionnel Genovart, has grown to create a new generation of luthiers

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Premium ❘ Focus

‘People sense when you are genuinely passionate about something’ - Stephen Upshaw’s life lessons

11 July 2025

The Solem Quartet violist on the life of a chamber musician and how to create your own professional path

Ayanna Witter-Johnson

Premium ❘ Focus

Sentimental Work: Ayanna Witter-Johnson on Debussy’s Cello Sonata

4 July 2025

Discovering the myriad colours and layers of Debussy’s Cello Sonata was an eye-opening experience for the British cellist, pianist, vocalist and composer

Competitions

NEW (18)

Winners announced at the Schoenfeld International String Competition

23 July 2025

15-year-old Jeri Lee and 22-year-old Meng Zou won the cello and violin divisions respectively

NEW (21)

Finalists announced for the Schoenfeld International String Competition

20 July 2025

Three violinists and three cellists have progressed to the final round, which will be held on Wednesday 23 July

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Ensembles announced for the Schoenfeld International String Competition chamber music division

17 July 2025

Nine chamber groups will perform on the 21 July final

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Premium ❘ News

Competitions, Awards and Appointments: August 2025

22 July 2025

The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests

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Premium ❘ News

Premiere of the Month: Tyson Gholston Davis’s new work for the Jack Quartet

22 July 2025

A gestural piece of art inspires a new string quartet

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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

NEW (18)

Winners announced at the Schoenfeld International String Competition

23 July 2025

15-year-old Jeri Lee and 22-year-old Meng Zou won the cello and violin divisions respectively

NEW (21)

Finalists announced for the Schoenfeld International String Competition

20 July 2025

Three violinists and three cellists have progressed to the final round, which will be held on Wednesday 23 July

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Ensembles announced for the Schoenfeld International String Competition chamber music division

17 July 2025

Nine chamber groups will perform on the 21 July final

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Teaching lutherie in Latin America: sowing the seeds for success

25 July 2025

Peter Somerford explores how an instrument repair initiative, set up by the Latin American youth orchestra venture Iberorquestas and violin maker Lionnel Genovart, has grown to create a new generation of luthiers

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In Focus: A 1659 violin by Nicolò Amati

25 July 2025

Colin Adamson examines a mid-17th-century violin by the revered Cremonese maker

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Analysis August 2025: Prospects for young bow makers, repairers and restorers

25 July 2025

With bow making a fixture on the ‘red list’ of endangered crafts in the UK, what’s the outlook for new students looking to become bow makers, repairers and restorers? By Peter Somerford

Newark School

Partial success for Newark violin making students as one-year courses announced

14 July 2025

The new courses will cost £4,000 and students will receive certificates of competency on completion

Poss lead

Making Matters: constructing a quartet from one maple tree

11 July 2025

Hans Jóhannsson reflects on the experience of making a quartet of instruments using maple sourced from a single tree

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My Space: Alan Beavitt’s Scoraig workshop

4 July 2025

Take a tour of the maker’s Scottish shop

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Concert review: Pablo Ferrández (cello), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Domingo Hindoyan

22 July 2025By

Edward Bhesania hears the performance of Roberto Sierra, Elgar and Rachmaninoff at London’s Barbican Hall on 19 May 2025

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Concert review: Diotima Quartet

22 July 2025By

Peter Quantrill pays a visit to London’s Milton Court on 18 May 2025 for this Boulez anniversary recital, with a smattering of Bach and Webern

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Concert review: Castalian Quartet, Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello)

22 July 2025By

Janet Banks visits London’s Wigmore Hall on 16 May 2025 for the recital of Natalie Klouda, Thomas Adès and Schubert

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The Strad Recommends: Chiaroscuro Quartet: Haydn

25 July 2025By

A freshness of approach proves winning in this evolving Haydn cycle

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The Strad Recommends: Miró Quartet: Ginastera

25 July 2025By

A quartet marks its 30th birthday on searing form

Bruch Aavik

The Strad Recommends: Hans Christian Aavik: Bruch

25 July 2025By

A competition winner shows his mettle in highly contrasting works

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Book review: Made in Italy: Strings Attached – Four Seasons of an Italian Violin

11 July 2025By

Raphael Klayman reads Thomas Walter Kelley’s account of his journey to Italy to learn the history of his 1810 Ceruti violin

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Book review: Robert Schumann’s Leipzig Chamber Works: Music in the Great Stream of Time

11 July 2025By

Robin Stowell reviews Julie Hedges Brown’s study of Schumann’s three string quartets op.41, Piano Quintet op.44 and Piano Quartet op.47

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Book review: Antonio Stradivari: The Complete Works

13 June 2025By

Eric Wen scrutinises the mammoth six-volume work by Beares Publishing comprising all the known works of Antonio Stradivari along with his sons

Debate

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Opinion: Strategies for coming back to your instrument

25 July 2025

Returning to your instrument after a long break can be dispiriting, says cellist Davina Shum, but it’s important to take it by degrees, have faith in your ability and trust the process

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Opinion: The future of lutherie after the Newark School’s course cancellations

27 June 2025

News came in May that the Newark School of Violin Making is withdrawing its degree-level courses. Helen Michetschläger, who trained at the school, says what this might mean for the future of lutherie worldwide

Debate

opinion pic aug

Opinion: Strategies for coming back to your instrument

25 July 2025

Returning to your instrument after a long break can be dispiriting, says cellist Davina Shum, but it’s important to take it by degrees, have faith in your ability and trust the process

08 Newark modern sign

Opinion: The future of lutherie after the Newark School’s course cancellations

27 June 2025

News came in May that the Newark School of Violin Making is withdrawing its degree-level courses. Helen Michetschläger, who trained at the school, says what this might mean for the future of lutherie worldwide

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    Whether you are a string player searching for a new instrument or a business owner looking to reach your target audience, the Strad Directory remains the most comprehensive and user-friendly resource for the string music world.