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Steve Reich receives President’s Medal from Juilliard
Semi-finalists announced at 2026 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis
‘A constant friend’: Thomas Bowes on a homecoming recording of Elgar’s Violin Concerto
David Garrett on his Stradivari and Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violins: ‘I’m curating a small collection of my own’
David Garrett on his Stradivari and Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violins: ‘I’m curating a small collection of my own’
Paddington Trio named Lichfield Festival associate artists
‘Take the risk’: Alexander Hersh on building a visual world around new music
Danish Quartet cancels Wigmore Hall date following injury
Violinist wins the 2026 Concertino Praga’s keyboard and strings division
Eleven-year-old violinist wins 2026 George Enescu International Competition
US violinist Jayden King has become the youngest winner in the competition’s history
Watch: Yo-Yo Ma performs Bach during 9/11 ceremony in New York
The cellist performed during the reading of the names of those who died at Ground Zero on 11 September 2001
Airlines break Darlington Quartet’s 200-year-old cello
The quartet was travelling from Australia to the UK via Qantas Airlines and British Airways
Playing Hub
David Garrett on his Stradivari and Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violins: ‘I’m curating a small collection of my own’
Ahead of the release of his new album Immortal, David Garrett speaks to Eric Wen about the Stradivari and Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violins that have shaped his career, and why he has become an avid collector of fine instruments
‘Take the risk’: Alexander Hersh on building a visual world around new music
Ahead of the release of a full performance video on 14 October, cellist Alexander Hersh explains how a series of narrative promotional films and a surreal music video aim to spark curiosity about Paul Novak’s variations with sand in the gears and help the new work reach a wider audience.
Let them be heard: The Ragazze Quartet on elevating women’s stories
The ensemble speaks to The Strad about its recording of five world-premiere recordings by a diverse group of female composers and librettists
The joy of being the second violist in the Mozart Viola Quintets
What happens when Mozart adds an extra viola to the already ideal format of the string quartet? Hsin-Yun Huang illustrates how the second violist can enjoy myriad roles in these works as a musical chameleon
Cellist Gabriel Cabezas performs Alyssa Weinberg’s ‘Pieces of Light’
Cabezas performs Shimmer, the latest single from the upcoming album of Weinberg’s suite, Pieces of Light
Beyond the repertoire: preparing young musicians for a major competition
Cellist and researcher Joanna Latała examines how preparation for competitions requires more than just learning the notes in the practice room
Premium ❘ Feature
My Space: Manuel Ramírez’s San Salvador workshop
The luthier presents his El Salvador shop
Premium ❘ Feature
Technique: Creative fingering for violinists
Leo Phillips explores how players can experiment with different approaches to violin fingerings and hand frames
Premium ❘ Feature
My Space: Manuel Ramírez’s San Salvador workshop
The luthier presents his El Salvador shop
Premium ❘ Focus
Postcard from Canada: Montreal International Music Competition
Rita Fernandes reports from the 2026 violin edition of the Montreal International Music Competition, which integrated new features while retaining its traditionally world-class level
Premium ❘ Focus
‘Your first instrument is your body’ - Matthew Jones’s life lessons
The Welsh violist and violinist and head of chamber music at Guildhall School of Music & Drama on his teaching approach and unconventional journey
Competitions
Semi-finalists announced at 2026 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis
Several of the 16 competitors are first-prize laureates of previous international violin competitions in recent years
Violinist wins the 2026 Concertino Praga’s keyboard and strings division
US–Japanese violinist Lin Tokura receives the first prize scholarship of €5,000 and a recording opportunity
Viatores Quartet receives the 2026 Hans Gál Ensemble Prize
The quartet wins €16,000 and concert engagements
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: William Marsey’s new string quartet
Anglican chant inspires a new string quartet
Premium ❘ News
Competitions, Awards and Appointments: October 2026
The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests
Masterclass: Schumann Fairy-tale Pictures op.113, third and fourth movements
Patrick Yim explores two movements of juxtaposing characters that test a viola player’s versatility and technical skill
Masterclass: Haydn Piano Trio in C major, Hob.XV:27, first movement
Violinist Elene Meipariani of Trio E.T.A. highlights the importance of finding a unified sound that brings life to this sprightly movement
Masterclass: Schumann Fairy-tale Pictures op.113, third and fourth movements
Patrick Yim explores two movements of juxtaposing characters that test a viola player’s versatility and technical skill
Masterclass: Haydn Piano Trio in C major, Hob.XV:27, first movement
Violinist Elene Meipariani of Trio E.T.A. highlights the importance of finding a unified sound that brings life to this sprightly movement
Masterclass: Grieg Violin Sonata no.3 in C minor, op.45, first movement
Esther Yoo guides violinists through a movement of turbulence and tenderness in a work that requires complete technical command
The Strad Podcast: How to tailor the Suzuki Method to different students with violinist Meghan Faw
The violinist shares her personal experiences with the method as both a student and a teacher
The Strad Podcast: How to hold a masterclass with violinist Paul Huang
The violinist speaks about his teaching approaches in a unique learning experience, in the third part of our four-part education-themed podcast series
The Strad Podcast: How to teach collaborative skills with violinist Annie Fullard of the Cavani Quartet
‘We should live in a chamber music world’ - the violinist speaks about the importance of collaboration inside and outside of the practice room, in the second episode of our four-part education-themed podcast series
The Strad Podcast: How to practise effectively with violinist Ray Chen
The first in our new four-part education themed podcast series features our September 2024 cover star
The Strad Podcast: How to tailor the Suzuki Method to different students with violinist Meghan Faw
The violinist shares her personal experiences with the method as both a student and a teacher
The Strad Podcast: How to hold a masterclass with violinist Paul Huang
The violinist speaks about his teaching approaches in a unique learning experience, in the third part of our four-part education-themed podcast series
The Strad Podcast: How to teach collaborative skills with violinist Annie Fullard of the Cavani Quartet
‘We should live in a chamber music world’ - the violinist speaks about the importance of collaboration inside and outside of the practice room, in the second episode of our four-part education-themed podcast series
Competitions
Semi-finalists announced at 2026 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis
Several of the 16 competitors are first-prize laureates of previous international violin competitions in recent years
Violinist wins the 2026 Concertino Praga’s keyboard and strings division
US–Japanese violinist Lin Tokura receives the first prize scholarship of €5,000 and a recording opportunity
Viatores Quartet receives the 2026 Hans Gál Ensemble Prize
The quartet wins €16,000 and concert engagements
Cellist Gabriel Cabezas performs Alyssa Weinberg’s ‘Pieces of Light’
Cabezas performs Shimmer, the latest single from the upcoming album of Weinberg’s suite, Pieces of Light
Cellist Gabriel Cabezas performs Alyssa Weinberg’s ‘Pieces of Light’
‘The Final Bow’: documentary short exploring the fate of pernambuco
New video: ensemble132 performs Clara Schumann
‘Extraordinary depth and humanity’: 17-year-old cellist Daniel Dorn performs solo Bach
Watch: Yo-Yo Ma performs Bach during 9/11 ceremony in New York
12 Ensemble performs Arvo Pärt’s ‘Fratres’
Trailer drops for ‘A Song for the Snow Lion’ film, featuring Yo-Yo Ma
New video: Ilya Kaler and Rasa Vitkauskaite perform Florence Price’s ‘Adoration’
Signum Quartet performs Vítězslava Kaprálová
Spring Cadenzas: violinist Midori performs a Covid-commissioned concerto by Derek Bermel
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My Space: Manuel Ramírez’s San Salvador workshop
The luthier presents his El Salvador shop
In Focus: An 1830 violin by Giuseppe Dall’Aglio
Claudio Amighetti examines the 19th-century instrument
‘The Final Bow’: documentary short exploring the fate of pernambuco
The film looks at efforts to conserve the tree, regarded as an iconic symbol of Brazil, and its use by bow makers worldwide
The Strad Calendar 2027: c.1725 ‘Da Vinci’ Stradivari violin
One of two Stradivari violins named after the Renaissance genius, the c.1725 ’Da Vinci’ is played by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s David Coucheron
The Strad Calendar 2027: Norway’s pride and joy
The Strad Calendar 2027 features eleven Stradivari instruments, all taken from the collection of the Anders Sveaas Charitable Foundation. Christian Lloyd examines the treasures
An overlooked wonder: Pietro Barbieri
Despite having made only a handful of instruments in his career, Pietro Barbieri proved to be one of Mantua’s most accomplished luthiers. Philip Kass and Andrea Zanrè look into his life and examine an instrument from 1826
My Space: Manuel Ramírez’s San Salvador workshop
The luthier presents his El Salvador shop
In Focus: An 1830 violin by Giuseppe Dall’Aglio
Claudio Amighetti examines the 19th-century instrument
‘The Final Bow’: documentary short exploring the fate of pernambuco
The film looks at efforts to conserve the tree, regarded as an iconic symbol of Brazil, and its use by bow makers worldwide
The Strad Calendar 2027: c.1725 ‘Da Vinci’ Stradivari violin
One of two Stradivari violins named after the Renaissance genius, the c.1725 ’Da Vinci’ is played by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s David Coucheron
The Strad Calendar 2027: Norway’s pride and joy
The Strad Calendar 2027 features eleven Stradivari instruments, all taken from the collection of the Anders Sveaas Charitable Foundation. Christian Lloyd examines the treasures
An overlooked wonder: Pietro Barbieri
Despite having made only a handful of instruments in his career, Pietro Barbieri proved to be one of Mantua’s most accomplished luthiers. Philip Kass and Andrea Zanrè look into his life and examine an instrument from 1826
Concert review: Timothy Ridout (viola) Britten Sinfonia/Thomas Larcher
Edward Bhesania attends London’s Wigmore Hall on 7 July 2026 for the recital of Britten, Pärt, John Adams, Hindemith and Bach
Concert review: Pinchas Zukerman (violin, viola) Zurich Chamber Orchestra/Daniel Hope (violin)
Carlos María Solare visits the Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden, Germany, for the concert of Haydn and Mozart on 12 July 2026
Cellophonics: Wood on the Tracks
An unorthodox quartet scores highly on passion
Solomiya Ivakhiv: Music of Resilience
A powerful album offering music as protest
Esmé Quartet: Nui
A Wigmore Hall competition laureate celebrates its tenth birthday
Book review: Bows and Arrows: The Autobiography
Tully Potter reviews the autobiography of Julian Lloyd Webber, from the British cellist’s early years growing up in South Kensington to his time as principal of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire – and beyond
Book review: Monograph of the Antonio Stradivari Violin c.1667 ‘Back’, ‘Josefowitz’
Philip Brown reads the exhaustive study, published by Jost Thöne Verlag, bringing together the scholarship of violin experts with high-resolution photos, CT scans and analysis under different kinds of light
Book review: Getting in Gear: Fundamental warm-ups for string orchestra
Celia Cobb reviews a new series of warm-up patterns designed to help students at intermediate string-orchestra level to prepare themselves for rehearsal
Debate
Opinion: Playing with accompanists early on
Piano accompaniment is too often treated as an afterthought in teaching. Violinist Sendi Vartanovi argues that string students learn more effectively when collaboration begins from day one
Opinion: How community teaching can inspire all teachers
Nabile Galván outlines how community-based teaching can inform all educators, no matter where they teach
Debate
Opinion: Playing with accompanists early on
Piano accompaniment is too often treated as an afterthought in teaching. Violinist Sendi Vartanovi argues that string students learn more effectively when collaboration begins from day one
Opinion: How community teaching can inspire all teachers
Nabile Galván outlines how community-based teaching can inform all educators, no matter where they teach
Concert review: Timothy Ridout (viola) Britten Sinfonia/Thomas Larcher
Edward Bhesania attends London’s Wigmore Hall on 7 July 2026 for the recital of Britten, Pärt, John Adams, Hindemith and Bach
Concert review: Pinchas Zukerman (violin, viola) Zurich Chamber Orchestra/Daniel Hope (violin)
Carlos María Solare visits the Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden, Germany, for the concert of Haydn and Mozart on 12 July 2026
Book review: Bows and Arrows: The Autobiography
Tully Potter reviews the autobiography of Julian Lloyd Webber, from the British cellist’s early years growing up in South Kensington to his time as principal of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire – and beyond
Book review: Monograph of the Antonio Stradivari Violin c.1667 ‘Back’, ‘Josefowitz’
Philip Brown reads the exhaustive study, published by Jost Thöne Verlag, bringing together the scholarship of violin experts with high-resolution photos, CT scans and analysis under different kinds of light
Book review: Getting in Gear: Fundamental warm-ups for string orchestra
Celia Cobb reviews a new series of warm-up patterns designed to help students at intermediate string-orchestra level to prepare themselves for rehearsal
Cellophonics: Wood on the Tracks
An unorthodox quartet scores highly on passion
Solomiya Ivakhiv: Music of Resilience
A powerful album offering music as protest
Esmé Quartet: Nui
A Wigmore Hall competition laureate celebrates its tenth birthday
Artists
‘Love what you do’: Antje Weithaas
Violinist Antje Weithaas talks to Pauline Harding about her varied career in teaching, performance and, most recently, conducting, which is carrying her in new and exciting directions as she approaches her 60th birthday
Juilliard Quartet at 80: lines of inquiry
As the Juilliard Quartet celebrates its 80th anniversary, its members speak to Thomas May about teaching, rehearsal‑room disagreement, new commissions and the essential questions that keep the ensemble’s tradition alive
Brett Dean: the music from within
Australian composer and violist Brett Dean has long drawn on his experience from playing inside the orchestra to shape his own music. He tells Jessica Duchen about how his writing and playing continue to inform each other
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