About us

Published in May 1890, the first issue of The Strad featured Joseph Joachim, the violinist to whom Brahms dedicated his Concerto. Since then, players such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Mischa Maisky and many more besides have brought their insight and expertise to the pages of the magazine. The Strad is an indispensible guide for string players, teachers and instrument makers alike, featuring expert advice and practical guidance each month from celebrated luthiers working with traditional techniques and the latest technological advances. Authoritative, trusted and influential, The Strad is available in print and digital editions.

Editorial team

Emma Baker, editor

Emma studied music at Nottingham University and has an MMus in performance from the RSAMD (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland). She has written and edited for Gramophone, Songlines and BBC Music Magazine among many other publications, and was previously editor of the Royal Opera House Magazine. Her non-musical hobbies include running, and painting and drawing.

Christian Lloyd, managing editor

Christian is the former editor of both International Arts Manager magazine and the Performing Arts Yearbooks. He takes care of the In Focus, Trade Secrets, My Space, Making Matters and Sentimental Work sections of The Strad, as well as all feature articles relating to instruments and lutherie, the book reviews and the news pages.

Davina Shum, online editor

New Zealand-born cellist Davina Shum moved to the UK to join the Southbank Sinfonia in 2013 and has since enjoyed a varied freelance career as a performer, teacher and recording artist. With a particular interest in broadcasting, Davina has contributed to the BBC Radio 3 podcast Time Travellers as well as running her own podcast As It Comes: Life from a musician’s point of view. Away from the cello and The Strad, Davina enjoys bouldering, vegetable gardening and retro video games.

Rita Fernandes, staff writer

Rita is an Australian-Swiss King’s College London and Conservatoire de Lausanne music graduate. Her favourite part of being staff writer is writing long-form features. As a musician she especially enjoys improvisation and interdisciplinary projects on the violin, and she also helps run several ensembles across London. Outside of music, she loves stand-up and improv comedy, international relations, and watching her favourite sports.

Lauren Wesley-Smith, editorial assistant

Lauren Wesley-Smith is a South African cellist currently pursuing her postgraduate studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She previously worked as a journalist for Die Matie, the campus newspaper of her alma mater Stellenbosch University, which won the 2019 ATKV Prize for best campus newspaper during her time there. Beyond The Strad and her cello, Lauren enjoys fantasy novels, thrift-shopping, and mooning over her five cocker spaniels.

Marija Duric-Speare, sub editor

Apart from bringing her knowledge as a cellist to The Strad, Marija has long had a passion for music history, having written an original thesis on the elder Cervetto for her first degree and gained an MMus in historical musicology at King's College London. She works for other music publications too (RMA journal; Gramophone), and enjoys swimming, walking, watching films and reading fiction.

Advertising

Mariette King, advertising manager

Mariette was born in France and brought up in Lebanon, Australia and the UK. Her career in advertising mirrors her international background and has encompassed broadcast, print and digital. She wanted to work at The Strad since it combined music, fine literature and the opportunity to meet and share her knowledge of advertising with such talented people. In her spare time she enjoys baking and aromatherapy.

Jeremy Fordrey, senior account manager

Jeremy is The Strad’s senior account manager with media experience across a wide and diverse range of markets. He studied and gained a Diploma of Management Studies at Kingston University and is a keen amateur musician playing guitar and electric bass. Through working with The Strad he has discovered the joys and wonders of live and recorded classical music.

Angela Lyons, art editor

Angela Lyons is The Strad's art editor. She studied at Central Saint Martins and has over 20 years' experience as a graphic designer. Working with The Strad team she has discovered lots of new music and outside work enjoys looking at art and keeping fit.

Philip Ihle, lutherie consultant

Tully Potter, historical consultant