Featured Stories – Page 15
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Blogs
The best seat in the house is a bean bag: 48 hours at the Edinburgh International Festival
Online editor Davina Shum reports back from four sessions in Edinburgh, where artists displayed their superpowers to bring people together and offer much-needed musical nourishment
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Violinist Ray Chen: Making the connection
Global violinist Ray Chen’s mission is to connect people through music. He speaks to Amanda Holloway about his work both on and off the concert platform – through his Tonic practice app, his social media presence and his new album
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Shaping a century of music: Curtis Institute centenary
As it celebrates its 100th anniversary this autumn, the Philadelphia-based Curtis Institute retains its unique status as a centre not only for high-level training but for the education of the whole artist. Thomas May discovers the revered conservatoire’s rigorous standards and personalised approach
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Scandinavian Cello School: The road to Vienna
From rural Denmark to Vienna’s Musikverein, Rita Fernandes discovers the Scandinavian Cello School’s distinctive educational ethos while on tour with its cello octet
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Blogs
Aileen Reid: why a 5-string fiddle is my sound, style and identity
Fiddler of the Scottish folk band the Kinnaris Quintet shares how her unique instrument lends itself perfectly to her way of music making (even if it made her teeth hurt at first)
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Blogs
‘The violin was a lifeline’ - Resilience of the Romani people through music
In the lead up to the Dallas String Quartet’s new album in collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra, ROMANI: The Untold Story, violist and composer Ion Zanca explains how the violin has come to symbolise the Romani people’s resilience and cultural identity
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Blogs
A chamber music idyll in the Pacific Northwest
US correspondent Thomas May reports on Music on the Strait, an intimate chamber music festival that takes place each summer on Washington’s scenic Olympic Peninsula
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Blogs
The epic film scores of John Williams, arranged for flute, cello and piano: cellist Cécilia Tsan
Cécilia Tsan shares what it’s like to work with legendary film composer John Williams, ahead of a recording release of arrangements of his acclaimed scores transcribed for trio of flute, cello and piano, which Williams described as ‘one of my best birthday gifts’
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Postcard from Brussels: 2024 Queen Elisabeth Competition
The 2024 Queen Elisabeth Competition confirmed that the standards and the stakes are higher than ever. Melissa Lesnie reports from one of the most influential string events on the international circuit
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Blogs
Why cellists make good marathon runners
French cellist Gautier Capuçon recently ran a marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but he’s not the only string player with another life as a long-distance runner. We take a look at some of the others
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Sentimental Work: Simone Lamsma on Britten’s Violin Concerto
The Dutch violinist feels a rapport with the sound world of Britten’s Violin Concerto, a piece that’s accompanied her since her success in the eponymous competition
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Blogs
‘We violists have to be hungry for a diverse musical feast’ - Idiosyncracies of the viola in new music
Violist Amelia Hollander Ames discusses how her instrument’s unique features can be utilised to great effect in contemporary music
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Blogs
How to unlock hidden potential, part three: Principles for developing potential
Violinist Hector Scott shares his insights into how to make practice engaging and help a pupil become a better version of themselves. In the final of three parts, he explores the principles for developing potential
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100 years of cellist Christopher Bunting: ‘The truth of one’s nature has the last word’
British cellist Christopher Bunting brought an unwavering authenticity to his art as a performer, and as a renowned pedagogue he had the drive and generosity to help others achieve the same in their own playing. On the centenary of his birth, his daughter, violinist and teacher Philippa Bunting, considers his ...
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Blogs
Augustin Hadelich on his new album, ‘American Road Trip’
The violinist answers The Strad’s questions on America’s cornucopia of musical styles, evident in his upcoming album comprising works by composers ranging from Bernstein to Adams, to Coleridge-Taylor and Beach
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News
A week of rehearsals with the NYO: cellist Ben Matson
The cellist and string leader in the National Youth Orchestra (NYO) shares a week in the busy rehearsal schedule of the orchestra, ahead of a UK tour culminating at the BBC Proms this week
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Focus
‘I fell in love with music and everything changed’ - Antonio Meneses’s life lessons
In this article from The Strad’s March 2017 issue, the Brazilian cellist talks about playing the piano, taking it slow, and a piece that changed him
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Feature
Antonio Meneses: A deep musical intuition
Cellist Antonio Meneses featured as the cover artist for The Strad’s August 2012 issue. Despite an uncompromising introduction to the instrument, the Brazilian cellist went on to excel in Classical and Romantic repertoire. He explained to Nick Shave why he then began exploring lesser-known works
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Blogs
Lead from behind: wielding double bass superpowers in the orchestra
Principal bassist of the Charleston Symphony Christian Hales examines the methods in which an orchestral bass section can bring out the best of the ensemble
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Opinion: Avoid overloading students with information
Double bassist Alex Ferkey believes that young string players are often derailed by information overload, and should trust more in unconscious processes when trying to perfect their technique