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Yo-Yo Ma awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal

2024-11-04T15:53:00+00:00

The award, which is the society’s highest honour, recognises the cellist’s outstanding musicianship and humanitarian efforts

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Opinion: Practising scales in sequential order

2024-11-01T09:42:00+00:00

While most string players agree that scales and arpeggios are the basic building blocks for good technique, cellist Robert Jesselson says that it’s essential to practise them sequentially to gain the maximum benefit

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‘Our little boy deserves a future’ - violin-cello couple aims to raise €800,000 for son’s cancer treatment

2024-10-30T11:08:00+00:00

The eight-year-old son of violinist Anna Lipkind-Mazor and cellist Gavriel Lipkind has a rare and aggressive form of cancer that requires specialist treatment in Barcelona

Playing Hub

NEW (23)

‘One of the most rewarding musical relationships’ - Joseph Phibbs’s string quartets recorded by the Piatti Quartet

2024-11-01T09:47:00+00:00

The composer shares the inspiration behind his string quartets nos. 2-4, ahead of the recording release by the Piatti Quartet on 1 November

GettyImages-118984026

Opinion: Practising scales in sequential order

2024-11-01T09:42:00+00:00

While most string players agree that scales and arpeggios are the basic building blocks for good technique, cellist Robert Jesselson says that it’s essential to practise them sequentially to gain the maximum benefit

NEW (25)

50 per cent viola: Quartetto di Cremona shuffles instrumentation for Bach’s ‘The Art of Fugue’

2024-10-31T10:03:00+00:00

The ensemble’s newest release sees second violinist Paolo Andreoli taking up the viola and violist Simone Gramaglia playing a tenor viola, in order to capture the essence of Bach’s contrapuntal writing

kousso

Great string players of the past: Gary Karr on Sergey Koussevitzky

2024-10-31T08:30:00+00:00

Gary Karr shares a spooky connection with double bassist Sergey Koussevitzky, in this article from October 2013

junction-trio

Brahms, Shostakovich and John Zorn: the Junction Trio debuts at the 92nd St Y

2024-10-30T09:53:00+00:00

US correspondent Thomas May speaks with violinist Stefan Jackiw and cellist Jay Campbell of the Junction Trio about their upcoming programme at the 92nd St Y, where they will give the world premiere of a new work John Zorn has written for them, alongside music by Brahms and Shostakovich.

The Young Virtuosi Hero Image Landscape

Violinist Yeyeong Jenny Jin on returning to New Zealand following competition success, and the Young Virtuosi Antipodean tour

2024-10-29T12:49:00+00:00

The 2023 winner of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition speaks to The Strad about her tour of New Zealand and Australia with Jeonghwan Kim, as well as how discovering culinary delights provides motivation for being on the road

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Premium ❘ Feature

Trade Secrets: Making a wooden peg shaper

2024-11-01T09:44:00+00:00

A method for creating a model with an interchangeable blade

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Premium ❘ Feature

My Space: Yam Uri Raz’s Hawai’i workshop

2024-11-01T09:43:00+00:00

The maker shows us around his shop in the city of Hilo

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Premium ❘ Focus

Postcard from Switzerland: Gstaad Menuhin Festival

2024-10-18T09:55:00+01:00

The Gstaad Menuhin Festival presented more than 60 concerts over six weeks in the Swiss Alps during the summer of 2024. Laurence Vittes sampled some of the best of its strings programming

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Premium ❘ Focus

Opinion: Avoid cheap instruments for beginners

2024-10-04T06:51:41.15+01:00

Cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell urges parents not to buy their children cheap stringed instruments online – it’s a false economy and only leads to disappointment and waste

Competitions

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Nine violinists progress to the IsangYun Violin Competition semi-finals

2024-11-05T10:56:00+00:00

The semi-finals will take place on 6 and 7 November in Tongyeong, South Korea, with each contestant performing a recital with piano

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Dubai Classic Violin Competition announces finalists

2024-11-04T14:52:00+00:00

The ten violinists will be competing for a €20,000 first prize

20211106-©SihoonKim-TIMF-070 (1)

Competition preview: what to know before the IsangYun Violin Competition

2024-11-01T09:48:00+00:00

From 3 to 10 November 2024, 23 violinists from around the world will compete at this year’s violin edition, which includes a prize pool worth £44,000

keb 2 Titilayo Ayangade

Premium ❘ News

Premiere of the Month: Kebra-Seyoun Charles’s new bass concerto

2024-10-30T08:30:00+00:00

A New York-inspired bass concerto brings together varying dance forms

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Premium ❘ News

Premiere of the Month: Tim Garland’s new violin concerto

2024-10-11T08:46:00+01:00

A violin concerto with improvisation throughout

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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

annie-1

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

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Nine violinists progress to the IsangYun Violin Competition semi-finals

2024-11-05T10:56:00+00:00

The semi-finals will take place on 6 and 7 November in Tongyeong, South Korea, with each contestant performing a recital with piano

d

Dubai Classic Violin Competition announces finalists

2024-11-04T14:52:00+00:00

The ten violinists will be competing for a €20,000 first prize

20211106-©SihoonKim-TIMF-070 (1)

Competition preview: what to know before the IsangYun Violin Competition

2024-11-01T09:48:00+00:00

From 3 to 10 November 2024, 23 violinists from around the world will compete at this year’s violin edition, which includes a prize pool worth £44,000

1747 Palmason Gennaro Gagliano violin

The Strad Calendar 2025: 1747 ‘Palmason’ Gennaro Gagliano violin

2024-11-05T09:40:00+00:00By

Named for Canadian violinist Pearl Palmason, the violin has a back of one piece of maple with broad figure

Cozio

New exhibition of Count Cozio di Salabue drawings to open in Cremona

2024-11-04T16:20:00+00:00

The collection of manuscripts by the 19th-century Italian violin connoisseur is to be preserved for future study

00 intro

Trade Secrets: Making a wooden peg shaper

2024-11-01T09:44:00+00:00

A method for creating a model with an interchangeable blade

IMG_0915

My Space: Yam Uri Raz’s Hawai’i workshop

2024-11-01T09:43:00+00:00

The maker shows us around his shop in the city of Hilo

1824 McConnell Nicolo Gagliano cello

The Strad Calendar 2025: 1824 ‘McConnell’ Nicolò Gagliano II cello

2024-10-29T10:13:00+00:00By

A rare cello by the least prolific member of the Neapolitan family, the ‘McConnell’ has a two piece back of slab-cut poplar

Lead - Violin-in-a-box

Making Matters: A violin made by ten luthiers

2024-10-25T09:45:00+01:00

Over the course of a year, ten luthiers in nine countries made a violin together, sending each other the parts by mail. Christian Lloyd reports on the unique project ‘Violinabox’

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Concert review: Lark, Roman and Meyer Trio

2024-10-17T23:55:00+01:00

Thomas May attends their concert of Bach and music by Meyer himself at the University of Washington’s Meany Center for the Arts in Seattle on 16 October 2024

Roman Simovic

Festival round-up: Edinburgh International Festival 2024

2024-10-11T08:47:30.857+01:00By

David Kettle reports from the Edinburgh International Festival, where string works were much in evidence

Screenshot 2024-09-18 145911

Concert review: Bozzini Quartet

2024-10-11T08:47:19.837+01:00By

Bruce Hodges takes in the performance of Bekah Simms, Klaus Lang, James Tenney at Jürg Frey at Mary Flagler Cary Hall in New York’s Dimenna Center on 16 and 17 August 2024

Mendelssohn Bell

Joshua Bell, Steven Isserlis: Mendelssohn

2024-11-01T09:44:52.67+00:00By

Darkness and drama aplenty from three master musicians

SChoenberg Juilliard Qt

Juilliard Quartet: Schoenberg

2024-11-01T09:44:48.867+00:00By

A fitting 150th-birthday tribute to a musical visionary

Sibelius Ehnes

James Ehnes: Sibelius

2024-11-01T09:44:45.37+00:00By

An evergreen concerto is compellingly reframed

Thumb Position

Book review: Thumb Position

2024-09-27T08:47:00+01:00By

Caroline Emery reviews double bass tutor Charlotte Mohrs’s introduction to playing in thumb position, published in English for the first time

Survey of solo works

Book review: A Survey of Solo Works for the Violoncello

2024-09-27T08:45:00+01:00By

Janet Banks reviews cello professor Brian Hodges’ volume on cello repertoire from the 17th century to the present day

The Instrumentalist

Book review: The Instrumentalist

2024-09-27T08:43:00+01:00By

Anne Inglis reviews Harriet Constable’s fictionalised account of the life of violinist Anna Maria della Pietà, protégé of Vivaldi

Debate

GettyImages-118984026

Opinion: Practising scales in sequential order

2024-11-01T09:42:00+00:00

While most string players agree that scales and arpeggios are the basic building blocks for good technique, cellist Robert Jesselson says that it’s essential to practise them sequentially to gain the maximum benefit

GettyImages-1135385484

Opinion: Avoid cheap instruments for beginners

2024-10-04T06:51:41.15+01:00

Cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell urges parents not to buy their children cheap stringed instruments online – it’s a false economy and only leads to disappointment and waste

Debate

GettyImages-118984026

Opinion: Practising scales in sequential order

2024-11-01T09:42:00+00:00

While most string players agree that scales and arpeggios are the basic building blocks for good technique, cellist Robert Jesselson says that it’s essential to practise them sequentially to gain the maximum benefit

GettyImages-1135385484

Opinion: Avoid cheap instruments for beginners

2024-10-04T06:51:41.15+01:00

Cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell urges parents not to buy their children cheap stringed instruments online – it’s a false economy and only leads to disappointment and waste

Accessories

  • IMG_8633

    Concert review: Lark, Roman and Meyer Trio

    2024-10-17T23:55:00+01:00

    Thomas May attends their concert of Bach and music by Meyer himself at the University of Washington’s Meany Center for the Arts in Seattle on 16 October 2024

  • Roman Simovic

    Festival round-up: Edinburgh International Festival 2024

    2024-10-11T08:47:30.857+01:00

    David Kettle reports from the Edinburgh International Festival, where string works were much in evidence

  • Screenshot 2024-09-18 145911

    Concert review: Bozzini Quartet

    2024-10-11T08:47:19.837+01:00

    Bruce Hodges takes in the performance of Bekah Simms, Klaus Lang, James Tenney at Jürg Frey at Mary Flagler Cary Hall in New York’s Dimenna Center on 16 and 17 August 2024

  • Thumb Position

    Book review: Thumb Position

    2024-09-27T08:47:00+01:00

    Caroline Emery reviews double bass tutor Charlotte Mohrs’s introduction to playing in thumb position, published in English for the first time

  • Survey of solo works

    Book review: A Survey of Solo Works for the Violoncello

    2024-09-27T08:45:00+01:00

    Janet Banks reviews cello professor Brian Hodges’ volume on cello repertoire from the 17th century to the present day

  • The Instrumentalist

    Book review: The Instrumentalist

    2024-09-27T08:43:00+01:00

    Anne Inglis reviews Harriet Constable’s fictionalised account of the life of violinist Anna Maria della Pietà, protégé of Vivaldi

Artists

Education Resources

  • The_Strad_directories_2023

  • 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.