Editor's letterThe art of improvisation can seem like an

ContributorsMICHAEL DORAN (Trade Secrets, page 64) studied at

SOUNDPOSTLetters, emails, online comments

TOP 3 ONLINE POSTSwww.thestrad.com 1 Russian cellist Anastasia Kobekina (below)

Bright young thingsNews and events from around the world this month

OBITUARIESCHRISTOPHER REX American cellist Christopher Rex died on

Back to naturePREMIERE of the MONTH

COMPETITIONSPaddington Trio Lionel Martin Anastasia Kobekina PADDINGTON TRIO

At what price?CELLO STRINGS

COMBATING CALLUSESFINGER PRACTICE STRAP

ON YOUR TAILTAILPIECE WEIGHTS

Life lessonsThe Juilliard Quartet cellist recalls her many tutors and stresses the importance of staying curious

Cello explorationsAdrian Smith spent a weekend in Dublin exploring the delights of Spike Cello Festival, a vibrant ‘alt-cello’ weekend that celebrates the versatility of the instrument beyond the core classical repertoire

HER INFINITE VARIETYViolinist Viktoria Mullova talks to Toby Deller about her eclectic musical collaborations, mastering the art of improvisation, experimenting with technique, and her new Schubert recording with pianist Alasdair Beatson

FROM PRODIGY TO PEDAGOGUESwedish-born violinist Paul Makanowitzky ultimately helped create the American school of violin playing. David Hays explores his life and multifaceted career

GANGNAM STYLEOver the past decade, a wide community of violin and bow makers has grown up in the Seocho district of Seoul. Luthier Hagit Gili Gluska speaks to colleagues young and old, both local and from overseas, who have made this area their home

A ROYAL CONSORTRichard Boothby of Fretwork speaks to Robin Stowell about the ensemble’s recording of fantasias for viol consort by Thomas Lupo, the Italian who made a name for himself at Queen Elizabeth I’s court

RESURRECTING A BAROQUE MAVERICKWhen Gerald Elias unearthed music by the little-known London-based 18th-century composer and virtuoso violinist Pietro Castrucci, he discovered a unique and independent musical voice

THE OLD-FASHIONED WAYAt a time when bow making in Germany was leaning towards industrialisation, August Rau kept up the tradition of independent craftsmanship. Gennady Filimonov tells the story of his long career and examines several examples of his work

RAU’S SONSHow two of August Rau’s three boys went into the instrument trade, although two met a tragic end in World War I

CAMILLO MANDELLIIN FOCUS

Carving a ‘Hill-style’ saddleTRADE SECRETS

MY SPACEA peek into lutherie workshops around the world

Hidden in plain sightMAKING MATTERS

BRUCH’S KOL NIDREI OP.47MASTERCLASS

Kol NidreiRobert Hausmann gewidmet Erschienen 1881

Developing bow control for improved toneTECHNIQUE

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

RECORDINGSBACH Solo Sonatas & Partitas Vol.1: Partitas: no.2

BOOKSGÜNTER KÜHNEL/SEBASTIAN KIRSCH Joachim Tielke: Kunstvolle Musikinstrumente des

From the ARCHIVEUS violin maker Edward Hellier-Collens gives readers of The Strad the benefit of his expertise: good violin tone lies not in the varnish after all, but in the ‘filler’ (ground coat)

IN THE NEXT ISSUEPavel Haas Quartet The Czech foursome

RENAUD CAPUÇONDespite being a ‘non-violinistic’ piece, the Brahms Violin Sonata no.1 stands out for the French violinist as the work that helped him discover the wonders of chamber music

CHECKLISTQuestions to help you find the right course and to prepare you for life as a student

INSPIRED TO SUCCEEDFind out where you can study with some of the string world’s most in-demand pedagogues

COURSE LISTINGSARGENTINA Taller Escuela de Música y Artes (TEMA),

Mia Stanton, violinAustralian National Academy of Music, Melbourne

Matej Mijalić, violinUniversity of Zagreb Academy of Music

Adalberto Ambotta, double bassConservatorio Giuseppe Tartini, Trieste

Inés Issel, violinReina Sofía School of Music, Madrid

Sagnick Mukherjee, violaRoyal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow I was drawn

Maya Anjali Buchanan, violinCurtis Institute of Music, Pennsylvania