1 mins
Contributors
SEAN BISHOP (In Focus, page 61) is a stringed instrument dealer who has had a shop in central London for almost 20 years. He was originally a violist, but his true passion for instruments and bows forced his early retirement as a musician.
NIGEL HARRIS (Acoustics, page 54) has had two careers; initially as a structural engineer in New Zealand and later in the UK as the maker of 272 violins, violas and cellos. His research and published papers concern violin varnish and the structural dynamics of violins. He was awarded a PhD by the University of Southampton.
MARTIN HORVAT (Making Matters, page 70) studied at the Vienna University of Music and Arts and the Cremona International School of Violin Making. He has run a violin making workshop in Cremona since 2003. His creative and innovative approach has led to exciting collaborations and projects.
ITZHAK RASHKOVSKY (Technique, page 76) is professor of violin at London’s Royal College of Music, and the co-founder and music director of Keshet Eilon Music Center in Israel. He is also the artistic director of Music Masters in London, UK.
MYRA ROSS (The blind string player, page 40) is an American amateur violinist–violist. Born with low vision that slowly deteriorated to total blindness, she saw no future for herself as a professional musician. After retiring in 2019 she renewed her love affair with the viola and joyfully discovered that she can indeed play string quartets.
ELIZABETH WILSON (Shostakovich Cello Sonata, page 46) studied cello at the Moscow Conservatoire with Mstislav Rostropovich between 1964 and 1971. From 1990 she has lived in Italy where she has been active as a teacher and performer. Her books include Shostakovich: A Life Remembered and biographies of Rostropovich and Jacqueline du Pré.