The Strad September 2018 issue is out now in which Maxim Vengerov, celebrated violinist and dedicated educator, tells us that his own education is a lifelong undertaking, encompassing conducting, music history, theory and – one day soon – composition.

The Royal College of Music's head of strings gives his thoughts on how to prepare for conservatoire auditions; and Canadian violinist and pedagogue Gwen Thompson-Robinow talks about the teaching methods she learnt from Josef Gingold, Jascha Heifetz and Ivan Galamian.

We look at the role of cochineal in the brilliant red varnish of Stradivari's finest instruments; chart master bow maker Eugène Sartory's development through his unbranded work; observe repairers David Hawthorne and Mariia Gorkun rescuing a damaged Sartory bow; and hear from luthier Frédéric Levi on the tricks and challenges of photographing bows.

In our regular sections:

In Focus features the record-breaking c.1773 'Sinzheimer' violin by G.B. Guadagnini; Shirley White describes how to build a jig for arching corrections in Trade Secrets; My Space features the workshop of Russian-born luthier Yuri Pochekin; and in Making Matters we hear Steve Rossow's various techniques for teaching violin making.

Our monthly Masterclass features cellist Guy Johnston discussing Mendelssohn's Variations op.17; Leo Phillips gives his ingenious strategies for functional fingering in Technique; veteran cello teacher Aldo Parisot tells us his Life Lessons; plus David Finckel explains his love for Myaskovsky's 1944–5 Cello Concerto in Sentimental Work.

In this month's bumper 144-page digital edition:

View extra photos of this month's In Focus instrument, the record-breaking 'ex-Sinzheimer' Guadagnini violin that fetched £1,587,000 at auction recently.

There's a privileged peek into the French chateau where violinists Julian Rachiln and Sarah McElravy got married, with several top string soloists giving them a rousing send-off.

Yuri Pochekin gives a tour of his Spanish workshop in My Space, and we present Pekka Kuusisto's theatrical rendition of Daniel Bjarnason's Violin Concerto with the New York Philharmonic. Plus clips from the three recordings this month given 'The Strad Recommends' badge