All Featured Stories articles – Page 6
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Premium ❘ FocusOpinion: The dangers of perfectionism
In striving to become the best player or educator you can be, it’s important not to fall into the trap of unhelpful perfectionism, say violinists and teachers Claire Allen and Christine Goodner
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BlogsDoubling down on the duo: violin reflections in ‘American Mirror’
Featuring Njioma Grevious and Tai Murray, Curtis Stewart’s new violin duo explores identity, genre and collaboration as part of Sphinx Virtuosi’s American Mirror.
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BlogsLucerne Festival debut: Swiss violinist David Nebel on incompleteness, continuity and coming home
The Swiss-born violinist, now concertmaster of the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, returns to a city close to his heart for his Lucerne Festival debut – and reflects on balancing leadership, solo performance and a programme built around the 2025 festival’s ’Open End’ theme.
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BlogsAsja Valčić: improvising is like composing in the moment
The cellist and composer speaks to The Strad about her new album of original works, Inner Voice, which stemmed from her exploration into jazz and improvisation
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Blogs‘An amphitheatre of sky and earth’ - Postcard from Montana: Tippet Rise
US correspondent Thomas May reports on a recent visit to Tippet Rise Art Center in Montana, where concerts unfold amid monumental sculptures and dramatic skies. At the season’s opening weekend, beloved works by Vivaldi, Copland and Schubert were heard anew, shaped by a landscape where art and nature are inseparable.
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BlogsThe future is here: 72 hours at the Edinburgh International Festival
Staff writer Rita Fernandes attended a gloriously varied five concerts at the 2025 edition, which included everything from breakdancing Bach to Arabic maqams on viola d’amore
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BlogsSounding the alarm: Apollo Chamber Players on stories of censorship
Apollo Chamber Players’ new album confronts repression worldwide, blending commissions, narration and activism into a powerful statement on art as both resistance and refuge.
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BlogsNick Revel on weaving video games and music together via ‘The Hero Levels’
Violist Nick Revel shares how his love of video games inspired his latest project of etudes and fantasy storytelling, which culminates in a new original soundtrack recording
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Premium ❘ FeatureString teachers’ development: sharing the wisdom
Teaching often forms a major part of a string player’s career, but how and where do they develop the skills required? Peter Somerford hears from pedagogues, course leaders and graduates about the options
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Premium ❘ FeatureSession Report: cellist Anastasia Kobekina on recording the Bach Solo Cello Suites
Cellist Anastasia Kobekina tells Charlotte Gardner about her approach to recording the monumental Bach Solo Cello Suites, and how it has resulted in her most personal album to date
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Premium ❘ FocusSentimental Work: Thomas Demenga on Haydn’s Cello Concerto no.2 in D major
For the Swiss cellist, studying the original score of Haydn’s Cello Concerto no.2 in D major was the key to understanding the composer’s intentions
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Premium ❘ FeatureNotes between friends: Denver Adult Strings Camp
When violinist Sarah Jylkka launched a summer camp for adult string learners in Colorado, she was overwhelmed by the uptake. She speaks to Hattie Butterworth about how the Denver Adult Strings Camp has become a thriving, growing initiative
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BlogsCollaboration, communication and preparation: why the US Open mixed doubles champions are the ultimate chamber players
Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori lifted the trophy at the US Open’s revamped mixed doubles tournament on Wednesday night, showcasing the best of their team player skills not unlike those required in chamber music. Cellist Davina Shum (and The Strad’s resident tennis nut) examines what musicians can learn from these ...
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BlogsAt the edge of the storm: string quartets in a turbulent decade
On its new album Edge of the Storm, the US-American Telegraph Quartet explores string quartets born of war, exile and renewal.
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BlogsPulling strings: the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival scores
Richard Linnett reports back from the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, which presented a showcase of classics mixed with modern and ’newish’ music
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BlogsNYO-USA in Asia: music beyond borders
From Tokyo’s Suntory Hall to Beijing’s NCPA and the Seoul Arts Centre, the National Youth Orchestra of the USA journeyed across Asia this summer with Gianandrea Noseda on the podium. Violinist Rebekah Koh and cellist Collin Runnoe talk with Thomas May about the experiences that will stay with them long ...
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BlogsViolinist Zina Schiff: my lifelong journey to record the violin works of Hovhaness
The violinist shares influential memories behind recording the works of US composer Alan Hovhaness, now immortalised in a new album
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Premium ❘ FeatureTabea Zimmermann: climb every mountain
German violist Tabea Zimmermann chats with Pauline Harding about auditions, competitions, her teaching philosophy, what she’s learnt from contemporary music – and how a combination of working with students and performing has enabled her to reach ever greater heights of string playing
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Premium ❘ FeatureGary Karr: 1941–2025
The great and influential US double bassist died in July. His former student David Murray, now bass professor at the Butler School of Music, looks back at ‘a legend, artist, teacher and friend’
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Premium ❘ FocusPostcard from Milan: Antonio Mormone International Prize
The Antonio Mormone competition’s violin edition took place over an exacting thirteen-month period. Lauren Wesley-Smith attended the finals in Milan to hear the top three contenders
