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Found: Violist reunited with stolen instrument and bows in Texas
‘A powerful sound’: what it’s like to perform with Yo-Yo Ma and the Czech Philharmonic
‘Deep investment in people goes far’: How the artist collective Ilumina creates a musical eco-system
24-year-old selected as new solo cellist of Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Kanneh-Masons forced to postpone Toronto concert due to travel misfortunes
Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and his pianist sister Isata were due to perform at Koerner Hall on 11 December, but were kicked off a delayed Air Canada flight despite having booked a separate ticket for the cello
String stars perform at reopening of Notre Dame cathedral
The historic Paris landmark reopened on 7 December with a spectacular concert attended by 1,500 international dignitaries
TwoSet Violin returns with Bach-themed rap music video
The music video, which was posted under the B²TSM name, comes after the duo’s shock retirement news on 14 October
Playing Hub
Postcard from Lesbos: Molyvos International Music Festival
On the Greek island of Lesbos, the Molyvos International Music Festival offers live chamber music to a diverse international audience, as Claire Jackson discovered
You’ve got to do the work: The Miró Quartet marks its 30th-anniversary season
As the Miró Quartet celebrates its 30th-anniversary season, US correspondent Thomas May speaks with cellist Joshua Gindele about the American ensemble’s priorities – and the secret behind its longevity
Flying Blind: A conductor’s guide to taking an audition, part two
Conductor Leonard Slatkin shares what to expect following the first round of an orchestral audition, and how to navigate the next stage
How to reach 1 million followers: Ray Chen’s guide to social media success
Ray Chen’s combined social media platforms attract milions of followers. US correspondent Thomas May speaks with the violinist about his wildly successful work as an online content creator.
‘Your role is to lead by example’ - Edwin Barker’s life lessons
The US principal bassist on his love for orchestral playing and approach to leading
Heifetz as teacher: Words from the master
Ayke Agus served as Heifetz’s personal accompanist during classes and performances for the last 15 years of his life. Here, she shares recollections of his practice routine and teaching methods with Enrico Alvares
Premium ❘ Feature
The legacy of a legend: Jacqueline du Pré tribute
The impact of British cellist Jacqueline du Pré’s towering talent continues to endure, despite her cruelly short career. To mark 80 years since her birth on 26 January 1945, several prominent string soloists speak about the influence her playing has had on their own music making
Premium ❘ Feature
A unique poster: ‘Paderewski, Wendling’ violin – part two
Expert and conservator Balthazar Soulier has curated this month’s poster which, for the first time, features an ‘original composite’ violin: the ‘Paderewski, Wendling’, made by Montagnana and Guarneri ‘del Gesù’. Here he places this unique instrument in context and highlights complementary information to enable a better understanding of the poster ...
Premium ❘ Feature
The legacy of a legend: Jacqueline du Pré tribute
The impact of British cellist Jacqueline du Pré’s towering talent continues to endure, despite her cruelly short career. To mark 80 years since her birth on 26 January 1945, several prominent string soloists speak about the influence her playing has had on their own music making
Premium ❘ Focus
‘Your role is to lead by example’ - Edwin Barker’s life lessons
The US principal bassist on his love for orchestral playing and approach to leading
Premium ❘ Focus
‘Savour every moment’ - violinist Sarah Chang’s life lessons
The US violinist reflects on the lessons learnt from her unique upbringing
Competitions
Winners announced for New Zealand’s 2024 National String Competition
14-year-old violinist Hayden Chiu receives NZ$5,000 and performance opportunities
Winners announced at the 2024 Mieczysław Wajnberg International Violin Competition
Romanian violinist Iohan Coman received the €10,000 first prize
Six violinists proceed to finals of the 2024 Mieczysław Wajnberg International Violin Competition
The finalists will perform a concerto by Prokofiev, Shostakovich or Wajnberg for the chance to win the top prize of €10,000
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: Donghoon Shin’s new viola concerto for Amihai Grosz
D flat major forms the basis of a new viola concerto
Premium ❘ News
Competitions, Awards and Appointments: January 2025
The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests
Masterclass: Schubert ‘Death and the Maiden’ String Quartet, second movement
Violist of the Kuss Quartet William Coleman emphasises the importance of creating a narrative arc in this movement, which encompasses a journey of emotional ambivalence
Masterclass: Saint-Saëns Havanaise op.83
Violinist Max Baillie gives smart and efficient practice tips to showcase a piece for violin and orchestra that juxtaposes lyricism with virtuosic passagework
Masterclass: Schubert ‘Death and the Maiden’ String Quartet, second movement
Violist of the Kuss Quartet William Coleman emphasises the importance of creating a narrative arc in this movement, which encompasses a journey of emotional ambivalence
Masterclass: Saint-Saëns Havanaise op.83
Violinist Max Baillie gives smart and efficient practice tips to showcase a piece for violin and orchestra that juxtaposes lyricism with virtuosic passagework
Masterclass: Schubert Arpeggione Sonata on viola, first movement
Yuri Zhislin illustrates the importance of colour and harmony in a work renowned for its lyricism and technicality
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
Winners announced for New Zealand’s 2024 National String Competition
14-year-old violinist Hayden Chiu receives NZ$5,000 and performance opportunities
Winners announced at the 2024 Mieczysław Wajnberg International Violin Competition
Romanian violinist Iohan Coman received the €10,000 first prize
Six violinists proceed to finals of the 2024 Mieczysław Wajnberg International Violin Competition
The finalists will perform a concerto by Prokofiev, Shostakovich or Wajnberg for the chance to win the top prize of €10,000
Tommy Mesa performs Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No. 1
The cellist appears alongside the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra and its music director Stuart Malina
Tommy Mesa performs Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No. 1
Watch: Philharmonia Orchestra musicians play a festive string quintet
Watch: New violin-playing robot specialises in Indian music
Verdi’s La Forza del Destino for double bass and piano
![Bach_fuga_Artwork[DIGITAL]](https://dnan0fzjxntrj.cloudfront.net/Pictures/270x180/0/7/0/37070_bach_fuga_artworkdigital_132645_crop.jpg)
Bach’s Fugue from Violin Sonata no.2… played on double bass!
Trailer: New Netflix documentary celebrates the NY Phil’s first full-time female musician
New video: Abel Selaocoe performs ‘calm and serene’ Bach
Jordan Bak plays the ‘Silver Leaf Fiddle’ by Andrew Carruthers
Lera Auerbach’s ‘T’filah’ performed by violinist Christine Bernsted
Violinist Jack Liebeck and La Jolla SummerFest Chamber Orchestra perform The Lark Ascending
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A unique poster: ‘Paderewski, Wendling’ violin – part two
Expert and conservator Balthazar Soulier has curated this month’s poster which, for the first time, features an ‘original composite’ violin: the ‘Paderewski, Wendling’, made by Montagnana and Guarneri ‘del Gesù’. Here he places this unique instrument in context and highlights complementary information to enable a better understanding of the poster ...
In Focus: A 1937 violin by Giuseppe Castagnino
Alberto Giordano examines a 20th-century violin by the Chiavari-based luthier
Auction Report January 2025: The nice and the good
Kevin MacDonald finds a wealth of interesting lots at the October sales in London, from fine old Italians to a fiddle by a Cumbrian farmer
‘Through how many hands an instrument has to pass’ - From the archive: December 1904
Felix Herrmann reports on the violin making methods of Markneukirchen, and how the work is divided up among the neighbouring villages
Trade Secrets: Repairing a bow stick
François Louant presents a method for attaching new wood to the stick at the frog end, when the original material is unsalvageable
The Weidhaas–Finkel bow making dynasty: an exclusive close-up look at the family’s output
In the December 2024 issue, Gennady Filimonov tells the story of the Weidhaas and Finkel bow making families. Here he examines several bows by three of the dynasty’s best-known archetiers
A unique poster: ‘Paderewski, Wendling’ violin – part two
Expert and conservator Balthazar Soulier has curated this month’s poster which, for the first time, features an ‘original composite’ violin: the ‘Paderewski, Wendling’, made by Montagnana and Guarneri ‘del Gesù’. Here he places this unique instrument in context and highlights complementary information to enable a better understanding of the poster ...
In Focus: A 1937 violin by Giuseppe Castagnino
Alberto Giordano examines a 20th-century violin by the Chiavari-based luthier
Auction Report January 2025: The nice and the good
Kevin MacDonald finds a wealth of interesting lots at the October sales in London, from fine old Italians to a fiddle by a Cumbrian farmer
‘Through how many hands an instrument has to pass’ - From the archive: December 1904
Felix Herrmann reports on the violin making methods of Markneukirchen, and how the work is divided up among the neighbouring villages
Trade Secrets: Repairing a bow stick
François Louant presents a method for attaching new wood to the stick at the frog end, when the original material is unsalvageable
The Weidhaas–Finkel bow making dynasty: an exclusive close-up look at the family’s output
In the December 2024 issue, Gennady Filimonov tells the story of the Weidhaas and Finkel bow making families. Here he examines several bows by three of the dynasty’s best-known archetiers
Festival review: Rosendal Festival
Harriet Smith finds that rain certainly didn’t stop play at Leif Ove Andsnes’s inspiring annual Norwegian gathering from 7–11 August 2024
Concert review: Ava Bahari (violin) Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Santtu-Matias Rouvali
Andrew Mellor attends the performance of at Malmö Live Concert Hall in Sweden on 13 September 2024
Concert review: New York Philharmonic Ensembles
Leah Hollingsworth visits New York’s Merkin Concert Hall for the peformance of on 29 September 2024
The Strad Recommends: Harriet Krijgh: Dvořák, Elgar
Interpretations balancing depth and sensitivity make for a persuasive listen
The Strad Recommends: Johan Dalene: Souvenirs
An intoxicating programme inspired by childhood
The Strad Recommends: Doric Quartet: Beethoven
A second volume confirms that this is a Beethoven cycle of the first quality
Book review: The Cellist’s Guide to Scales and Arpeggios: A Comprehensive, Systematic, Sequential Approach
Janet Banks reviews Robert Jesselson and Teddy Buchholz’s system for practising cello scales and arpeggios
Book review: The Fulton Collection: Collector’s Edition
John Dilworth reviews a revised and updated version of the 2022 publication, now with an extra volume covering David Fulton’s bow collection
Book review: Dragonscales: The Hero Levels: 25 Fantasy Etudes to Slay Evil
Alex Laing reviews the violin and viola versions of Nick Revel’s innovative etude series, combining practice studies with a fantasy adventure game
Debate
Opinion: Solving issues with your students’ parents over coffee
When issues arise that aren’t easily solved during lesson time, cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell finds that taking a pupil’s parent or guardian out for a coffee and a chat on neutral territory can be time well spent
Opinion: Practising scales in sequential order
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
Debate
Opinion: Solving issues with your students’ parents over coffee
When issues arise that aren’t easily solved during lesson time, cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell finds that taking a pupil’s parent or guardian out for a coffee and a chat on neutral territory can be time well spent
Opinion: Practising scales in sequential order
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
Accessories
Products January 2025: D’Addario Eclipse rechargeable cello and bass tuner
A new tuner in the company’s wide range
Products January 2025: Peter Infeld cello strings
The long-standing range now includes a cello set
Products January 2025: VoiceUp soundpost
A new carbon-fibre soundpost focused on adjustability
Festival review: Rosendal Festival
Harriet Smith finds that rain certainly didn’t stop play at Leif Ove Andsnes’s inspiring annual Norwegian gathering from 7–11 August 2024
Concert review: Ava Bahari (violin) Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Santtu-Matias Rouvali
Andrew Mellor attends the performance of at Malmö Live Concert Hall in Sweden on 13 September 2024
Concert review: New York Philharmonic Ensembles
Leah Hollingsworth visits New York’s Merkin Concert Hall for the peformance of on 29 September 2024
Book review: The Cellist’s Guide to Scales and Arpeggios: A Comprehensive, Systematic, Sequential Approach
Janet Banks reviews Robert Jesselson and Teddy Buchholz’s system for practising cello scales and arpeggios
Book review: The Fulton Collection: Collector’s Edition
John Dilworth reviews a revised and updated version of the 2022 publication, now with an extra volume covering David Fulton’s bow collection
Book review: Dragonscales: The Hero Levels: 25 Fantasy Etudes to Slay Evil
Alex Laing reviews the violin and viola versions of Nick Revel’s innovative etude series, combining practice studies with a fantasy adventure game
The Strad Recommends: Harriet Krijgh: Dvořák, Elgar
Interpretations balancing depth and sensitivity make for a persuasive listen
The Strad Recommends: Johan Dalene: Souvenirs
An intoxicating programme inspired by childhood
The Strad Recommends: Doric Quartet: Beethoven
A second volume confirms that this is a Beethoven cycle of the first quality
Artists
Violinist Ning Feng: Truth and substance
There is seemingly nothing the Chinese-born, Berlin‑based violinist Ning Feng can’t do, from dazzling Paganini interpretations to Bach to 20th‑century concertos. He talks to Michael White about his influences, his future plans and his desire to pass on his musical wisdom to the next generation
‘Not bad’ meant ‘Very, very good!’: what was Leonid Kogan like as a violin teacher?
The distinguished French violinist and quartet leader Isabelle Flory studied with Leonid Kogan at the Moscow Conservatoire for three years. She shares her memories of his teaching methods
Kristin Lee: ‘Violin gave me an identity that wasn’t established through the colour of my skin’
The violinist speaks about how her experiences as a foreign-born citizen of the US laid the groundwork for her new album American Sketches, which features diverse repertoire from the country she now calls home
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