By Brian Wise Cynthia Phelps pauses to consider the uncertainties facing the New York Philharmonic, an orchestra she joined as principal violist in 1992, and which in the past 12 months has seen more upheaval than at any other point…
By John Eckstein Photos by Yuki MacQueen Even after spending most of the previous seven months fundraising and planning for that exact moment, it was still surreal to see 15 of my friends from the Utah Symphony and one from…
By Cristina Schreil Photos by Kevin Derrick Twenty-six-year-old Nick Gerald began playing the cello in the fourth grade. He pursued it head on, first at a boarding school for the arts and then at university in North Carolina. Halfway through…
By Atar Arad It’s the first day of school. Viola—let’s call her Viola—is a new freshman student in my studio, and her first lesson is about to begin. I intend to welcome her warmly and, perhaps, tell her that she…
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After 35 years under violinist Jeanne Lamon, the Baroque ensemble gets ready to welcome its second-ever music director By Megan Westberg Bassist Alison Mackay has been a member of Canadian period ensemble Tafelmusik for over 35 years. And she sounds…
By Patrick Sullivan After more than 35 years together, it’s no surprise to see a married couple finishing each other’s sentences. But Sigrun Seifert and Joseph Grubaugh are just as likely to finish each other’s instruments. Laboring side-by-side in their…
By Inge Kjemtrup Photos by Musacchio It’s a Wednesday morning in February, and cellist Guy Johnston and pianist Tom Poster are on the stage at London’s Wigmore Hall. They’ve just finished playing a new piece by Charlotte Bray and now…
Going through this process is beneficial even for those students who don’t need a full technique overhaul, for three main reasons
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By Louise Lee Illustrations by Olivia Wise Dancers, performing their gravity-defying leaps and turns, are frequently compared to athletes. But string players? It turns out that there are plenty of parallels between musical training and athletics, which both require performing…
By Heather K. Scott The Prague Summer Nights (PSN) Festival is a monthlong opportunity for conservatory-level students to learn and perform opera music in some of the most music-rich cities in Europe. It’s also much like taking lessons within a…
Anne Akiko Meyers fell in love with music at a very early age and was lauded as a child prodigy after her debut with a community orchestra at just seven years old. She’d go on to perform with the Los…
By James N. McKean It might sound odd that one of the leading dealers in rare antique violins would also be an ardent supporter of contemporary makers, but it was true. I experienced it firsthand, as did many of my…
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Chris Rohrecker of Connolly Music Company showcases two new products at Summer NAMM: the Realist SoundClip by David Gage for violin and viola, and Revelle‘s latest CrossTech violin case. Both products are slated to be available in September, with a…
By Louise Lee Players seeking to break the routine of weddings and corporate events can consider a more-unusual kind of gig: performing on a cruise ship. Entertainment is a must on any cruise, and operators routinely book soloists and ensembles…
By Cristina Schreil It’s August 2016 at SUNY Purchase, a college just north of New York City. As she’s done countless times in her two decades with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, violinist Elita Kang dons concert attire. She’s all made…
Tucked away in a rehearsal room at the San Francisco Conservatory, violinist Anne Akiko Meyers took time out of her schedule to perform a few audience-favorites for our latest Strings Session. Watch Meyers, accompanied by pianist Jeff LaDeur, perform Ennio…
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THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. Budapest Lutherie Violin. 4/4 size, value $2,800 Hungarian music has always been an experiment of old and new, of classical and folk. Hungarian violinists have represented this rich array of styles, from the soaring brilliance of…
By James N. McKean The worst piece of playground equipment in days of old was the see-saw. They’re mainly extinct now, and had a predatory look to them: a long pole, balanced in the center, with a seat at each…
By Thomas May “Question authority” isn’t just a political slogan. This quintessentially Socratic imperative is also characteristic of visionary artists who are drawn to challenge cultural assumptions that put a damper on the power of the art they practice. For…
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