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Will Smith sued by tour violinist for sexual harassment and wrongful termination
Brian King Joseph has sued Will Smith and Treyball Studios Management, alleging ‘predatory behaviour’ during the rapper’s 2025 tour
January 2026: Editor’s welcome and contents
The Strad’s editor Emma Baker introduces the January issue starring US violinist Stella Chen, who discusses her competition success, teaching and a new album of Beethoven and Barber concertos
Lufthansa apologises to violinist Carolin Widmann following Guadagnini incident
The violinist shared on social media that she had filed three complaints with the airline and subsequently received several apologies
Playing Hub
‘Like a fish in water’: Nicolas Altstaedt on Liza Lim’s Grawemeyer Award-winning cello concerto
The German-French cellist on collaborating with Liza Lim and bringing her Grawemeyer Award-winning cello concerto A Sutured World to life
Arnaud Sussmann: the importance of chamber music across generations
The violinist shares why it is significant for musicians of different generations to play and learn together, both in his own experience and in his capacity as artistic director of Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach, as it prepares to welcome its Rising Artists for 2026
Session Report: Violinist Ning Feng on recording the Goldmark and Brahms violin concertos
Violinist Ning Feng speaks to Harry White about recording two contrasting 19th-century concertos – Goldmark’s First and Brahms’s mighty warhorse – and how he strives to serve the voice of the composer above all
Sentimental Work: Timothy Ridout on Brahms’s Viola Sonata no.2
Learning Brahms’s Viola Sonata no.2 in E flat major was a revelation for the British violist – with the help of 17 different recordings from his teacher
Bella Hristova: Milestones with Jaime Laredo at Carnegie Hall
Ahead of a performance with the New York String Orchestra on 28 December, violinist Bella Hristova reflects on Jaime Laredo’s influence on her career, as he prepares to conduct the ensemble for the final time
‘A salve for the soul’: Anne Akiko Meyers plays music by Eric Whitacre
US violinist Anne Akiko Meyers discusses Eric Whitacre’s The Pacific Has No Memory, a new piece responding to the Los Angeles wildfires of January 2025
Premium ❘ Feature
Trade Secrets: Extending the reach of metal F-clamps
Making wooden jaws for a lighter, safer long-reach clamping alternative
Premium ❘ Feature
Technique: Double bass spiccato
Gaelen McCormick offers tips on teaching the technique on double bass
Premium ❘ Feature
Trade Secrets: Extending the reach of metal F-clamps
Making wooden jaws for a lighter, safer long-reach clamping alternative
Premium ❘ Focus
Sentimental Work: Timothy Ridout on Brahms’s Viola Sonata no.2
Learning Brahms’s Viola Sonata no.2 in E flat major was a revelation for the British violist – with the help of 17 different recordings from his teacher
Premium ❘ Focus
Postcard from Munich: Hindemith International Viola Competition
Carlos María Solare reports from the wide-ranging and eventful second edition of the Hindemith International Viola Competition
Competitions
Competitors announced for Michael Hill International Violin Competition 2026
16 quarter-finalists will compete in Queenstown and Auckland, New Zealand, in May and June 2026 for a prize pool valued at over NZD$100,000
Terra Quartet wins 2025 Naumburg Chamber Music Competition
The quartet wins $15,000, plus performance and recording opportunities
Results of the Seoul International Music Competition announced
Korean violinist Hyunjae Lim won first prize worth USD50,000
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: Tamar-kali’s new work for the Miró Quartet
Harlem Renaissance poetry takes centre stage in a new chamber work
Premium ❘ News
Competitions, Awards and Appointments: January 2026
The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests
Masterclass: Beethoven Violin Sonata no.10, op.96, first movement
Simplicity is the challenge in this peaceful, pastoral movement, creating an image of Beethoven at one with nature, says violinist Lena Neudauer
Masterclass: Brahms Cello Sonata no.1 in E minor op.38, third movement
This fugal final movement requires elements of restraint where climaxes must be managed carefully, says cellist Steffan Morris
Masterclass: Beethoven Violin Sonata no.10, op.96, first movement
Simplicity is the challenge in this peaceful, pastoral movement, creating an image of Beethoven at one with nature, says violinist Lena Neudauer
Masterclass: Brahms Cello Sonata no.1 in E minor op.38, third movement
This fugal final movement requires elements of restraint where climaxes must be managed carefully, says cellist Steffan Morris
Masterclass: Brahms Violin Concerto, second movement
The feeling of rhetoric and a stream of consciousness must be represented when approaching this movement, says violinist Liza Ferschtman
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
Competitors announced for Michael Hill International Violin Competition 2026
16 quarter-finalists will compete in Queenstown and Auckland, New Zealand, in May and June 2026 for a prize pool valued at over NZD$100,000
Terra Quartet wins 2025 Naumburg Chamber Music Competition
The quartet wins $15,000, plus performance and recording opportunities
Results of the Seoul International Music Competition announced
Korean violinist Hyunjae Lim won first prize worth USD50,000
Roman Kim: virtuosity, artistic freedom and how to find your voice
Daniel Kurganov interviews the violinist on a range of topics, ranging from his life story, teachers, his approach to virtuosity, and much more
Roman Kim: virtuosity, artistic freedom and how to find your voice
Bach in a new space: Francesca Dego performs the Chaconne
Video: Richard Tognetti performs at the top of Sydney Opera House
Hina & Fiona perform Handel-Halvorsen Passacaglia for two violins
‘You feel the presence and breath of a fifth person’ - The Elmire Quartet on its debut ‘Rasumovsky’ Quartets album
A cello, a zipline and a drone: how Gautier Capuçon’s Alpine music video was filmed
’Unapologetic passion: Delirium Musicum presents ‘Danse Macabre’
WATCH LIVE: Concours de Genève viola finals
A lasting relationship: the Ariel Quartet performs Beethoven op.59 no.3
A tribute to Mr Menuhin: an encore performance from Edinburgh International Festival
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Auction Report January 2026: Lights in the darkness
A brace of Gaglianos and a cavalcade of Sartory bows were among the highlights of London’s October sales, as Kevin MacDonald reports
Trade Secrets: Extending the reach of metal F-clamps
Making wooden jaws for a lighter, safer long-reach clamping alternative
‘The closest thing to the human voice’: violinist Stella Chen on her Strads
Our January 2026 cover star discusses the Stradivari violins she has played throughout her career
In Focus: 1821 violin by Carl Nicolaus Sawicki
Wolfhart Schuster examines an instrument by the Polish maker
Making Matters: How to make a big-sounding viola for smaller players
Maj-Lisa Herzberg presents her innovative solution to the question of how to build a big-sounding viola for a small person
‘Create what you are called to create’: catching up with Anne Harris and Amanda Ewing on their commissioned collaboration
The Strad catches up with Anne Harris and Amanda Ewing on their player/luthier collaboration that resulted in the first instrument commission between two African American women
Auction Report January 2026: Lights in the darkness
A brace of Gaglianos and a cavalcade of Sartory bows were among the highlights of London’s October sales, as Kevin MacDonald reports
Trade Secrets: Extending the reach of metal F-clamps
Making wooden jaws for a lighter, safer long-reach clamping alternative
‘The closest thing to the human voice’: violinist Stella Chen on her Strads
Our January 2026 cover star discusses the Stradivari violins she has played throughout her career
In Focus: 1821 violin by Carl Nicolaus Sawicki
Wolfhart Schuster examines an instrument by the Polish maker
Making Matters: How to make a big-sounding viola for smaller players
Maj-Lisa Herzberg presents her innovative solution to the question of how to build a big-sounding viola for a small person
‘Create what you are called to create’: catching up with Anne Harris and Amanda Ewing on their commissioned collaboration
The Strad catches up with Anne Harris and Amanda Ewing on their player/luthier collaboration that resulted in the first instrument commission between two African American women
Concert review: Jeffrey Zeigler (cello)
Leah Hollingsworth ventures into the Green-Wood Cemetery Catacombs in New York for the performances of works by Paola Prestini on 1–3 October 2025
Concert review: New York Philharmonic Ensembles
Leah Hollingsworth hears the performance of Mozart, Brahms and Beethoven at New York’s Merkin Concert Hall on 30 September 2025
Concert review: Pinchas Zukerman (violin) Israel Philharmonic/Lahav Shani
Leah Hollingsworth visits Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, New York, on 15 October 2025 for the performance of Prokofiev, Ben-Haim and Tchaikovsky
Zilliacus Trio: Kahn
Committed musicality brings a German late Romantic to life
Albrecht Menzel: Mendelssohn, Schumann
Two contrasting concertos, with the Schumann coming out on top
Roman Mints, Maxim Rysanov, Kristina Blaumane: Tabakova
A palpable sense of commitment brings this music to life
Book review: The Music Inside Us: Yo-Yo Ma and His Gifts to the World
Pauline Harding reads a picture book by James Howe and Jack Wong all about the renowned cellist’s life and career
Book review: Dynamite Strings
Alex Laing reads Georgina Leach’s books for beginner violinists, violists and cellists
Book review: Hungarian ‘Gypsy-Band’ Music in Vienna, 1850–1914: The Csárdás Craze
Robin Stowell reads Jon Banks’s history of the rise of Romani music in 19th-century Vienna
Debate
Opinion: Creating a musical environment
Suzuki pedagogue Helen Brunner considers the importance of preparing the environment for young learners, and why we should surround our children with music from the start
Opinion: How a performing career and teaching work hand in hand
Can performers sustain their own careers while also teaching students at a high level? Violinist Irina Rostomashvili believes it is not only possible, but essential
Debate
Opinion: Creating a musical environment
Suzuki pedagogue Helen Brunner considers the importance of preparing the environment for young learners, and why we should surround our children with music from the start
Opinion: How a performing career and teaching work hand in hand
Can performers sustain their own careers while also teaching students at a high level? Violinist Irina Rostomashvili believes it is not only possible, but essential
Accessories
Products January 2026: Pirastro Perpetual Stark A and E Double Bass Strings
Pirastro completes the Stark version of the Perpetual double bass range
Products January 2026: Gewa Wittner Float on Air System
A rest system designed for better sound and maximum adjustability
Products January 2026: Guardelli Sound Modulator
A new product to help eliminate wolf notes
Concert review: Jeffrey Zeigler (cello)
Leah Hollingsworth ventures into the Green-Wood Cemetery Catacombs in New York for the performances of works by Paola Prestini on 1–3 October 2025
Concert review: New York Philharmonic Ensembles
Leah Hollingsworth hears the performance of Mozart, Brahms and Beethoven at New York’s Merkin Concert Hall on 30 September 2025
Concert review: Pinchas Zukerman (violin) Israel Philharmonic/Lahav Shani
Leah Hollingsworth visits Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, New York, on 15 October 2025 for the performance of Prokofiev, Ben-Haim and Tchaikovsky
Book review: The Music Inside Us: Yo-Yo Ma and His Gifts to the World
Pauline Harding reads a picture book by James Howe and Jack Wong all about the renowned cellist’s life and career
Book review: Dynamite Strings
Alex Laing reads Georgina Leach’s books for beginner violinists, violists and cellists
Book review: Hungarian ‘Gypsy-Band’ Music in Vienna, 1850–1914: The Csárdás Craze
Robin Stowell reads Jon Banks’s history of the rise of Romani music in 19th-century Vienna
Zilliacus Trio: Kahn
Committed musicality brings a German late Romantic to life
Albrecht Menzel: Mendelssohn, Schumann
Two contrasting concertos, with the Schumann coming out on top
Roman Mints, Maxim Rysanov, Kristina Blaumane: Tabakova
A palpable sense of commitment brings this music to life
Artists
Stella Chen: a bright future
The American violinist chats with Rebecca Franks about her philosophy of playing and teaching, studying at Harvard, her experience of winning the Queen Elisabeth Competition and her new album, which marks a fresh chapter in her career
A youthful spirit: violinist Johan Dalene
The young Swedish violin virtuoso Johan Dalene speaks to Jessica Duchen about his evolution as a musician, his passion for contemporary music and his latest album that pairs the Bruch and Mendelssohn concertos
The greatest storyteller: Itzhak Perlman at 80
As he turns 80, the legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman speaks to Ariane Todes about everything from his stellar career to his teaching ethos, and his approach to social media stardom
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