ContributorsLUIZ AMORIM (Making Matters, page 68) began his

SOUNDPOSTLetters, emails, online comments

START YOUR COURSE HUNTING HERE!Before you start combing through the string courses listed in this guide, take a look at these suggestions to help find the course that’s right for you

QUESTIONS TO GET YOU STA RTEDWHY DO YOU WANT TO GO ON A

COURSES FOR PLAYERS AND TEACHERSPLAYERS KEY Instruments vn violin va viola vc

COURSES FOR MAKERSLuthier Adam Korman demonstrating at the Keshet Eilon

Editorís letterThe ‘Boissier, Sarasate’ Stradivari was in the possession

Safety in numbers?News and events from around the world this month

NEWS IN BRIEFBBC/CHRIS CHRISTODOULOU Tabea Zimmermann appointed to German Music

OBITUARIESANDREI ABRAMENKOV Russian violinist Andrei Abramenkov died on

What lies withinA work in search of a sound

COMPETITIONSJoshua Brown 1 US violinist Joshua Brown, 24,

NEW PRODUCTSVIOLIN STRINGS Gold standard A new violin string set

Life lessonsThe German violinist speaks about finding your own path and classical music’s way forward

Family affairsA Brothers Amati violin, another by a lesser-known Guadagnini and a cello by ‘the father of the piano’ all made waves at the London sales, as Kevin MacDonald reports

Splendour in the sunCellist Natalie Clein’s Purbeck International Chamber Music Festival features star players and thought-provoking themes. Charlotte Gardner enjoys the music – and an unseasonal heatwave – in the Dorset countryside

SARASATE’S CAPRICHOSTRADIVARI 1713 ‘BOISSIER, SARASATE’ VIOLIN

STRADIVARI À LA MODEGeorge Stoppani presents the results of an investigation into the acoustics of the ‘Boissier, Sarasate’, focusing primarily on the ‘signature modes’

‘Our mission is to get that one-to-one connection’With a string of competition wins to his name and debuts with major orchestras in 2024, Zlatomir Fung is a young cellist to watch. Amanda Holloway speaks to him about what inspires him and keeps him grounded

THE MARCH OF THE WOMENIn spite of historic discrimination against women having careers as professional musicians during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many first-class all-female string quartets flourished at the time. In the first of two articles, Tully Potter provides a survey of some of these pioneering groups

REACHING FOR THE MOONCellist Laura van der Heijden and pianist Jâms Coleman speak to Tom Stewart about the imaginative programming behind their new album Path to the Moon – their second recording together as a duo – which features an eclectic selection of lunar-inspired repertoire

LEGACY OF A FRIENDSHIPViolin virtuoso Maud Powell was the first American performer to recognise and champion the genius of Sibelius’s epic Violin Concerto in D minor, in spite of the initial scepticism of some US critics. Karen A. Shaffer reveals the mutual respect and friendship that made it possible

GIUSEPPE DEL LUNGOIN FOCUS

Half-edging with a router Makers reveal their special techniques

MY SPACEA peek into lutherie workshops around the world

Making every part countPoints of interest to violin and bow makers

MOZART VIOLIN CONCERTO NO.5, FIRST MOVEMENT MASTERCLASS

Divide and ruleThoughts on teaching bow distribution

CONCERTSYour monthly critical round-up of performances, recordings and publications

RECORDINGSBACH Goldberg Variations Reimagined Rachel Podger (violin) Chad

BOOKSBeethoven: The String Quartets David Vernon 433PP ISBN

From the ARCHIVEFROM THE STRAD JANUARY 1904 VOL.14 NO.165

IN THE NEXT ISSUEThe British violist, a former BBC New Generation Artist, talks about his latest album, a homage to Lionel Tertis

OPHÉLIE GAILLARDLearning Bloch’s Schelomo was like a baptism of fire for the French cellist – but as well as the technical challenges, it gave an eye-opening perspective on how music can make you feel