Playing Hub

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Rachel Barton Pine plays sonatas of Arcangelo Corelli

2024-09-12T09:42:00+01:00

Rachel Barton Pine’s new album of Arcangelo Corelli’s Op. 5 violin sonatas, on which she is joined by period-instrument specialists David Schrader (keyboards), John Mark Rozendaal (cello) and Brandon Acker (guitar), reflects the experimental spirit of Corelli’s original scores.

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Julia Hagen makes her Vienna Philharmonic debut at the Lucerne Festival

2024-09-11T09:55:00+01:00

US correspondent Thomas May interviews cellist Julia Hagen, winner of the 2024 UBS Young Artist Award, on the eve of her breakthrough debut with the Vienna Philharmonic at the Lucerne Festival

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‘One of my most loyal musical companions’: violinist Irène Duval on celebrating the music of Fauré

2024-09-06T09:36:00+01:00

Ahead of the centenary anniversary of Gabriel Fauré’s death and the release of her new album Fauré and Friends, Irène Duval writes on what the great composer’s music means to her and dives into his lesser known second violin sonata in E minor Op.108

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‘He has brushed aside all the absurd habits’- From the archive: September 1934

2024-09-06T09:24:24.573+01:00

Violinist and conductor Henri Temianka gives some thoughts on the teaching style of his former tutor Carl Flesch, on the occasion of the latter’s 60th birthday

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Sentimental Work: Raphaël Merlin on Charles Mingus’s Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

2024-09-06T09:24:00+01:00

The Charles Mingus jazz standard Goodbye Pork Pie Hat has become the cellist’s own farewell to the Ébène Quartet after more than two decades performing together

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What can string players learn from tennis players?

2024-09-04T11:15:00+01:00

Strength of mentality, discipline, adaptability and an understanding of the basics are all skills that cross between the fields of tennis and string playing, writes cellist and tennis enthusiast Davina Shum

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Premium ❘ Feature

50 years of the Takács Quartet

2024-09-13T09:02:00+01:00

As the Takács Quartet celebrates its 50th birthday, its members talk to Pauline Harding about the ensemble’s legacy, the intangible ‘fifth spirit’ that has shaped its character even as its players have changed over the decades, and the importance of teaching and other projects and challenges

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Premium ❘ Feature

From the land of a hundred violins: Amedeo Simonazzi

2024-09-13T09:00:00+01:00

The luthier Amedeo Simonazzi was born into a region with a strong native musical tradition – which is almost forgotten today. Stefano Pio reveals how his surroundings influenced his career

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Premium ❘ Feature

50 years of the Takács Quartet

2024-09-13T09:02:00+01:00

As the Takács Quartet celebrates its 50th birthday, its members talk to Pauline Harding about the ensemble’s legacy, the intangible ‘fifth spirit’ that has shaped its character even as its players have changed over the decades, and the importance of teaching and other projects and challenges

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Premium ❘ Focus

Opinion: What makes a good stand partner?

2024-08-30T08:41:00+01:00

It takes much more than turning up on time and playing the right notes to be a reliable stand partner, says violinist Alexandra Gorski. There are many essential rules to be followed

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Premium ❘ Focus

Postcard from Brussels: 2024 Queen Elisabeth Competition

2024-08-13T15:26:00+01:00

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

Competitions

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Winners announced for Rome Classic Violin Competition

2024-09-16T15:18:00+01:00

Armenian violinist Haik Kazazyan receives €20,000

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George Enescu International Competition announces violin finalists

2024-09-15T07:01:00+01:00

Three violinists will compete for the €15,000 top prize in Bucharest, Romania, on Monday 16 September

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Six violinists advance to Enescu Competition semi-finals

2024-09-13T13:12:00+01:00

The semi-final will take place on 14 September at Bucharest’s Romanian Athenaeum

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Premium ❘ News

Competitions, Awards and Appointments: October 2024

2024-09-13T08:56:00+01:00

The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests

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Premium ❘ News

Premiere of the Month: Tom Coult’s new work for the Adelphi Quartet

2024-09-10T13:14:00+01:00

A new string quartet explores the rich possibilities of the genre

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The Strad Podcast: How to hold a masterclass with violinist Paul Huang

2024-09-12T08:49:00+01:00

The violinist speaks about his teaching approaches in a unique learning experience, in the third part of our four-part education-themed podcast series

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The Strad Podcast: how to teach collaborative skills with violinist Annie Fullard of the Cavani Quartet

2024-09-05T09:47:00+01:00

‘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

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The Strad Podcast: How to practise effectively with violinist Ray Chen

2024-08-29T10:06:00+01:00

The first in our new four-part education themed podcast series features our September 2024 cover star

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The Strad Podcast #115: designing your own musical education as an adult learner with violinist Julia Reddy

2024-04-11T08:38:00+01:00

How can adult students gain musical enrichment beyond the practice room? The violinist, teacher and podcaster shares her strategies

Competitions

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Winners announced for Rome Classic Violin Competition

2024-09-16T15:18:00+01:00

Armenian violinist Haik Kazazyan receives €20,000

collages (20)

George Enescu International Competition announces violin finalists

2024-09-15T07:01:00+01:00

Three violinists will compete for the €15,000 top prize in Bucharest, Romania, on Monday 16 September

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Six violinists advance to Enescu Competition semi-finals

2024-09-13T13:12:00+01:00

The semi-final will take place on 14 September at Bucharest’s Romanian Athenaeum

David Garrett

Video: 15 Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violins in less than 4 minutes

2024-09-16T13:14:00+01:00

Highlights from David Garrett’s 2024 ‘Del Gesù’ Club, bringing together fine Guarneri instruments from all over the world

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‘Del Gesù’ Club brings together 17 Guarneri violins

2024-09-16T10:51:00+01:00

Organised by David Garrett, the annual two-day event allows owners and players of Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violins to play and examine each other’s instruments

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From the land of a hundred violins: Amedeo Simonazzi

2024-09-13T09:00:00+01:00

The luthier Amedeo Simonazzi was born into a region with a strong native musical tradition – which is almost forgotten today. Stefano Pio reveals how his surroundings influenced his career

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Why I only make violas: luthier Gabrielle Kundert

2024-09-06T09:36:00+01:00

The maker shares why she has dedicated her craft to the viola, as we take a close-up look at her copy of a 1787 Castello viola commissioned by National Symphony Orchestra principal violist Daniel Foster

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Trade Secrets: Purfling and edgework after closing the box

2024-09-06T09:24:00+01:00

A method that allows for more aesthetic freedom than completing the plates before finishing the soundbox

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My Space: Olivier Calmeille’s Montpellier workshop

2024-09-06T09:24:00+01:00

Examine the Atelier Scordatura in the south of France

Pacifica Quartet

Concert review: Pacifica Quartet masterclass and concert

2024-09-13T08:55:00+01:00By

Bruce Hodges attends the performance of Shostakovich and Beethoven as part of the Bowdoin Festival at the Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin, ME, US, on 1 July 2024

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Review: Alexi Kenney masterclass

2024-09-13T08:54:00+01:00By

Bruce Hodges watches the violinist’s workshop on at the Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin, ME, US, on 9 July 2024 as part of the Bowdoin Festival

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Review: Miriam Fried masterclass

2024-09-13T08:53:00+01:00By

Bruce Hodges hears some words of wisdom from the veteran violin tutor at the Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin, ME, US, on 17 July as part of the 2024 Bowdoin Festival

Szekely Hungarian Qt

Zoltán Székely: Bartók, Glazunov

2024-09-06T09:25:07.49+01:00By

A revered Hungarian violinist celebrated as soloist and chamber musician

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Guy Braunstein: Braunstein, Delius, Vaughan Williams

2024-09-06T09:25:04.257+01:00By

Two works by English masters rub shoulders with the Beatles

Clement Lin

Haoli Lin: Clement

2024-09-06T09:25:00.99+01:00

World premiere of Beethoven dedicatee Franz Clement’s solo violin works

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Book review: Teaching Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass: Historical and Modern Pedagogical Practices

2024-08-30T08:40:25.367+01:00By

Philippa Bunting peruses a volume on historical teaching methods penned by US educators Dijana Ihas, Miranda Wilson and Gaelen McCormick

String Virtuosi

Book review: String Virtuosi in Eighteenth-Century Naples: Culture, Power, and Music Institutions

2024-08-30T08:40:21.447+01:00By

Robin Stowell appraises Guido Olivieri’s monograph on the great players of the mid-Italian city during the Enlightenment era

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Book review: Employment and Vulnerabilities in the World of Orchestral Musicians: Symphonic Metamorphoses

2024-08-30T08:40:18.367+01:00By

Mark Pemberton, former chief executive of the Association of British Orchestras, gives a critical apprasial of Heather Kurzbauer’s volume on the running of an orchestra

Debate

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Opinion: Avoid overloading students with information

2024-08-05T08:05:00+01:00

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

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Opinion: Mass discardment of cheap bows

2024-07-01T08:05:00+01:00

Cellist Andrew Janss was shocked to discover the phenomenon of the cheap, single-use bow: one that costs more to rehair than replace. He calls for a change in manufacturers’ attitudes to such waste

Debate

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Opinion: Avoid overloading students with information

2024-08-05T08:05:00+01:00

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

Accessories

  • Pacifica Quartet

    Concert review: Pacifica Quartet masterclass and concert

    2024-09-13T08:55:00+01:00

    Bruce Hodges attends the performance of Shostakovich and Beethoven as part of the Bowdoin Festival at the Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin, ME, US, on 1 July 2024

  • Screenshot 2024-08-22 090822

    Review: Alexi Kenney masterclass

    2024-09-13T08:54:00+01:00

    Bruce Hodges watches the violinist’s workshop on at the Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin, ME, US, on 9 July 2024 as part of the Bowdoin Festival

  • Screenshot 2024-08-22 090835

    Review: Miriam Fried masterclass

    2024-09-13T08:53:00+01:00

    Bruce Hodges hears some words of wisdom from the veteran violin tutor at the Studzinski Recital Hall, Bowdoin, ME, US, on 17 July as part of the 2024 Bowdoin Festival

Artists

Education Resources

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  • The Strad Directory is the essential resource for the string music world, with over 2,300 listings providing information on string businesses across North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

    Whether you are a string player searching for a new instrument or a business owner looking to reach your target audience, the Strad Directory remains the most comprehensive and user-friendly resource for the string music world.