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Brazilian cello professor dies in car accident in Germany

2025-02-06T09:42:00+00:00

A cello professor in Berlin and Münster, Matias de Oliveira Pinto died on 4 February 2025

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Who’s that cellist?: Professional artist sketches star cellists

2025-02-05T11:02:00+00:00

Take a guess at which cellists are portrayed in these practice sketches by artist Hyung Ki Park

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Cellist Yo-Yo Ma performs in the snow above Davos

2025-01-28T14:51:00+00:00

The cellist performed atop Schatzalp above Davos during the World Economic Forum, with the aim to raise awareness about climate change and glacier preservation

Playing Hub

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‘Ysaÿe’s pictures are tone paintings’ - From the archive: February 1905

2025-02-14T07:45:00+00:00

US correspondent Edith L. Winn describes a stateside performance by Eugène Ysaÿe in prose so effusive that even the virtuoso would blush

Baner Achieve Performance MIndset

Positive self-talk: a key to boosting musicians’ confidence

2025-02-13T12:28:00+00:00

Cellist and researcher Joanna Latała shares methods for how to enhance your performance with affirming language, plus what musicians can learn from top athletes and sports psychology

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Helping young musicians find their sound: Music Instrument Fund of Ireland celebrates 30 years in 2025

2025-02-10T09:39:00+00:00

Gwendolyn Masin examines why violinist, educator and conductor Ronald Masin decided to spend a lifetime providing opportunities for the next generations of string players in Ireland

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Pizzicato Pizzazz: Rediscovering Bolognini’s legend in a musical gem that echoes home

2025-02-07T11:11:00+00:00

Violinist Tomás Cotik shines a light on forgotten composer and cellist Ennio Bolognini through rediscovery and exploration of the work Serenata del Gaucho, which contains demanding and virtuosic pizzicato from the performer

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Flashback: remembering David Finckel’s ‘Cello Talks’

2025-02-07T10:16:00+00:00

From 2009 to 2011, David Finckel recorded 100 video tutorials while on the road as cellist of the Emerson Quartet. Now, 14 years and a global pandemic later, he recalls his motivation to immortalise his knowledge via an extensive catalogue

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Postcard from Bucharest: George Enescu International Competition

2025-02-07T09:31:00+00:00

The long-running George Enescu Competition has now very much proved its mettle amid the international circuit, as Rita Fernandes discovers

My chisels and gouges ready for the Cryo-treatment (1)

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Making Matters: ‘Cryo-treatment’ of violin wood

2025-02-14T08:15:00+00:00

What effect would subjecting spruce and maple to ultra-low temperatures have on their sound quality? Oliver Radke presents the results of an informal study into the ‘cryo-treatment’ of violin wood

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Premium ❘ Feature

Trade Secrets: The ‘Doratura Cremonese’ ground method

2025-02-14T08:00:00+00:00

How to make and apply a ground coat with a deep golden yellow colour

My chisels and gouges ready for the Cryo-treatment (1)

Premium ❘ Feature

Making Matters: ‘Cryo-treatment’ of violin wood

2025-02-14T08:15:00+00:00

What effect would subjecting spruce and maple to ultra-low temperatures have on their sound quality? Oliver Radke presents the results of an informal study into the ‘cryo-treatment’ of violin wood

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Premium ❘ Focus

Opinion: Making the most out of chamber music coaching

2025-01-31T09:51:00+00:00

Playing chamber music well is the most valuable, and demanding, lesson for both string students and their teachers, says cellist David Finckel. He shares his own wealth of experience for making the most of coaching sessions

Glenn Dicterow with Bernstein

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Sentimental Work: Glenn Dicterow on Bernstein’s Serenade after Plato’s ‘Symposium’

2025-01-24T08:31:22.18+00:00

The New York Philharmonic’s former concertmaster recalls how he first learnt the solo part of Bernstein’s Serenade after Plato’s ‘Symposium’ before a national tour with the composer conducting

Competitions

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Violin contestants selected for Sendai International Music Competition

2025-02-14T15:38:00+00:00

41 violinists will have the chance to compete at this year’s competition, which will be held from 24 May to 8 June 2025

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Trio Brontë wins the Franz Schubert and Modern Music competition piano trio category

2025-02-14T11:35:00+00:00

The Trio Brontë has won the €13,500 first prize and the special prize for CD Production & Promotion

NEW (1)

Candidates announced for the 2025 Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition

2025-02-13T10:25:00+00:00

Ten quartets have been selected to take part in this year’s competition, which will be held from 19 to 25 May

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Competitions, Awards and Appointments: February 2025

2025-02-07T09:32:00+00:00

The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests

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Premiere of the Month: Michelle Barzel Ross’s new quartet for the Juilliard Quartet

2025-01-24T08:51:00+00:00

A new quartet remembers violist Roger Tapping

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The Strad Podcast: How to tailor the Suzuki Method to different students with violinist Meghan Faw

2024-09-19T09:05:00+01:00

The violinist shares her personal experiences with the method as both a student and a teacher

Paul Huang cr Marco Borggreve

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

Competitions

NEW (8) (1)

Violin contestants selected for Sendai International Music Competition

2025-02-14T15:38:00+00:00

41 violinists will have the chance to compete at this year’s competition, which will be held from 24 May to 8 June 2025

IMG_4574 2

Trio Brontë wins the Franz Schubert and Modern Music competition piano trio category

2025-02-14T11:35:00+00:00

The Trio Brontë has won the €13,500 first prize and the special prize for CD Production & Promotion

NEW (1)

Candidates announced for the 2025 Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition

2025-02-13T10:25:00+00:00

Ten quartets have been selected to take part in this year’s competition, which will be held from 19 to 25 May

My chisels and gouges ready for the Cryo-treatment (1)

Making Matters: ‘Cryo-treatment’ of violin wood

2025-02-14T08:15:00+00:00

What effect would subjecting spruce and maple to ultra-low temperatures have on their sound quality? Oliver Radke presents the results of an informal study into the ‘cryo-treatment’ of violin wood

6

Trade Secrets: The ‘Doratura Cremonese’ ground method

2025-02-14T08:00:00+00:00

How to make and apply a ground coat with a deep golden yellow colour

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Dance of the swans: the bows of Charles Nicolas Bazin

2025-02-07T09:33:00+00:00

The Tourte-model bows by Charles Nicolas Bazin represent the pinnacle of elegance and refinement in the history of French bow making. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the swan-head model, Richard Morency examines some of the finest examples

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My Space: Russell Stowe’s Woodbridge workshop

2025-02-07T09:30:00+00:00

The maker presents his Suffolk atelier

Head front

In Focus: 1877 double bass by Gand & Bernardel

2025-02-07T09:30:00+00:00

René Zaal examines the Parisian violin making house’s 19th-century bass

1930c Ladislaus Baczynski

‘Master of the violin, artist of the soul’: Władysław Baczyński

2025-01-24T08:32:00+00:00

Władysław Baczyński overcame a life of tragedy to become one of Poland’s most highly regarded 20th-century violin makers. Grzegorz Kaproń tells his story

Abel Selaocoe in Seattle

Concert review: Abel Selaocoe (cello) and Seattle Symphony/Giancarlo Guerrero

2025-02-11T10:12:00+00:00

US correspondent Thomas May reviews Abel Selaocoe’s Seattle Symphony appearance on 6 February 2025

Vengerov

Concert review: Maxim Vengerov (violin) Lawrence Power (viola) Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

2025-01-31T09:47:00+00:00By

Leah Hollingsworth attends an all-Mozart programme with the violinist and violist on 7 November 2024 in the Isaac Stern Auditorium at New York’s Carnegie Hall

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Concert review: Midori (violin) and Seattle Symphony/Anja Bihlmaier

2025-01-28T09:46:00+00:00

US correspondent Thomas May reviews Midori’s performance of the Brahms concerto with the Seattle Symphony under guest conductor Anja Bihlmaier on 23 January 2025.

Brahms Ehnes

James Ehnes: Brahms, Schumann

2025-02-07T09:29:38.84+00:00By

A violin master swaps instruments, to beguiling effect

Brahms Shiokawa

Yuuko Shiokawa: Brahms, Schumann

2025-02-07T09:29:35.337+00:00By

A husband-and-wife team fail to ignite in passionless performances

Busoni Dego

Francesca Dego: Busoni

2025-02-07T09:29:31.663+00:00By

A worthwhile late entry to last year’s Busoni anniversary

Cello

Book review: Cello: A Journey through Silence to Sound

2025-02-14T07:30:00+00:00By

Janet Banks reviews Kate Kennedy’s bestseller relating the stories of four cellists and their instruments

Under

Book review: Under the Goddess of the Sky: A Journey through Solitude, Bach, and the Himalayas

2025-02-14T07:15:00+00:00By

Raphael Klayman takes a look through Judith Glyde’s account of learning Bach’s Cello Suites in the Asian mountain range

Sightreading

Book review: Improve Your Sight-Reading! Viola Grades 6-8

2025-02-14T07:00:00+00:00By

Alex Laing reviews the latest in Paul Harris’s ever-growing oeuvre, this time focusing on hints and tips for sightreaders

Debate

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Opinion: Making the most out of chamber music coaching

2025-01-31T09:51:00+00:00

Playing chamber music well is the most valuable, and demanding, lesson for both string students and their teachers, says cellist David Finckel. He shares his own wealth of experience for making the most of coaching sessions

NEW (4)

Opinion: AI vs live performance?

2025-01-03T07:00:00+00:00

Even with the proliferation of technology such as generative AI in the music industry, violist Toby Deller believes there will always be a strong human need to experience live performance

Debate

Menlo-CMA4004-1

Opinion: Making the most out of chamber music coaching

2025-01-31T09:51:00+00:00

Playing chamber music well is the most valuable, and demanding, lesson for both string students and their teachers, says cellist David Finckel. He shares his own wealth of experience for making the most of coaching sessions

NEW (4)

Opinion: AI vs live performance?

2025-01-03T07:00:00+00:00

Even with the proliferation of technology such as generative AI in the music industry, violist Toby Deller believes there will always be a strong human need to experience live performance

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