July 2025 issue | ‘Farina’ cello by Montagnana | The Strad, essential reading for the string music world since 1890

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From this month's magazine

Power and majesty: Domenico Montagnana ‘Farina’ cello 1730

Made by Domenico Montagnana in 1730, the ‘Farina’ cello is a stunning instrument with a rich, powerful sound. John Waddle and Steve Sirr delve into its history and show how CT scans helped gather measurements for this month’s poster

Adam Summerhayes: Music shaped by instinct

Adam Summerhayes is a violinist and composer who combines his flair for improvisation and a love of folk music with a classical training and technique. He speaks to Alexandra Petropoulos about his latest projects and his very special instruments

Postcard from Newark: Newark School Lutherie Day

Students, amateurs and professional makers all came together at this year’s Lutherie Day for talks on anything violin-related. Christian Lloyd went along

Sofia Gubaidulina: a musical offering

Gavin Dixon examines the spiritual, visionary string works of the Russian–Tatar composer Sofia Gubaidulina, who died earlier this year

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

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

Technique: knowing your chords

Encouraging students to know their chords and understand how they work

Making Matters: constructing a quartet from one maple tree

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

Staying power: US String Quartets

As Brooklyn Rider and the Jack and the Miró quartets mark milestone anniversaries, Thomas May looks at how these contemporary American ensembles are not just surviving, but reshaping the 21st-century musical landscape

Masterclass: Dvořák String Quartet no.12 ‘American’, second movement

Cellist of the Dover Quartet Camden Shaw illustrates the importance of sound exploration in this bittersweet movement that can be seen as a metaphor for life and its many tribulations

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

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

My Space: Alan Beavitt’s Scoraig workshop

Take a tour of the maker’s Scottish shop

In Focus: A 1942 violin by Arturo Fracassi

Leonardo Cella examines the mid-century instrument by the Italian maker

Charles Beare: 1937–2025

One of the world’s most renowned violin experts died on 26 April this year. Anne Inglis looks back at his life, while friends and colleagues share their memories

Session Report: Nancy Zhou on her debut album for solo violin

Violinist Nancy Zhou speaks to Charlotte Gardner about her debut album, which is inspired by stories of personal and musical relationships, and showcases the versatility of the violin as a solo instrument

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

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

Analysis July 2025: The effects of Leicester Square’s ban on buskers

Now that buskers have been banned in London’s Leicester Square, how does the future of street entertainment look for those who depend on it for their livelihood? By Peter Somerford