From strings, to guitar slides, to emotional support mascots, leading violists reveal the items that they always carry with them when they are on the road. From the June 2025 Accessories supplement

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Upshaw photo: Matthew Johnson

Stephen Upshaw’s case always houses a spare set of Thomastik Vision solo strings

Stephen Upshaw, viola

I always keep in my case the essentials we string players rely on: spare strings, rosin, pencils and so on. Over the years, though, I’ve been able to find what really works best for me and my instrument.

Many years ago I was in Vienna working with Klangforum Wien, whose rehearsal studio happens to be just a few doors down from Thomastik-Infeld’s headquarters. I got in touch and they invited me to come and try some new products which is how I discovered their Vision Viola rosin, which was then in development, but I now swear by and never go without! Similarly, I always have a spare set of Thomastik Vision solo strings (above) which work brilliantly on my instrument.

As someone who spends a lot of time in the recording studio I also always have my Polly mute which sits silently on the strings and can be taken on and off completely smoothly and without making any noise. Finally, thanks to my work with Riot Ensemble, I usually have a number of unusual accessories ranging from guitar slides (glass and metal), Blu Tack and tiny wooden clothes pegs, all of which composers have asked for to create amazing new sounds on the viola!

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Ventris photo: Oxford Atelier

Rosalind Ventris keeps her BAM case in a Hoodie, in which she keeps Gustave Bernardel all-purpose rosin, as well as an Emotional Support Pickle

Rosalind Ventris, viola

I’m quite low-maintenance with what I keep in my case. For rosin, I use Gustave Bernardel all-purpose (above). I have two mutes – one is an Ultra practice mute, and I also have a magnetic mute that was a present from a friend. I use an Everest shoulder rest and always carry a couple of extra feet for it. My chinrest is an old one from Beare & Son which I really like – it’s quite flat, which suits me. For strings, I am definitely a metal person – I use Larsen for the top and Evah Pirazzi for the bottom three.

As well as that I carry a couple of scarves and dusters. I have a very light BAM case with a Hoodie cover (above), so it looks like it’s wearing a ski jacket. I keep my music in that. I carry some family photos in my case too – a picture from my wedding and one of my son as a newborn, which I wouldn’t be without. Last but not least I carry a little mascot that my friend, cellist Laura van der Heijden, gave me – an Emotional Support Pickle (above) to remind me that I am ‘a big dill’ before concerts. It’s very sweet.

Subscribers to The Strad receive the 2025 Accessories supplement free with their copy of the June 2025 issue

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