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String Pioneers: Giovanni Bottesini—Master of the Double Bass
Known in his time as the "Paganini of the Double Bass," Bottesini changed people’s ideas about what the instrument could do.
Review: ‘The Wannabe Classical Music Aficionado’ Is a Handy Introduction for New Classical Audiences
In boundlessly energetic style, violinist (and author) Allan Schiller takes the newbie concertgoer on a tour through canonic orchestral and chamber composers and repertoire from the Baroque to the present day.
Yamaha Releases Two new Silent Cello Models
The SVC300C and SVC300F models operate more as companions than competitors. It’s just that one is designed to appeal to classical players (300F), while the other is a little more rock ’n’ roll.
The Human Touch—New York’s Metropolitan Museum Unveils an Exhibition Correlating Instruments to the Body
It is described as the first major museum show to explore the relationship between bodies and musical instruments, gathering some 130 instruments, paintings, sculptures, and drawings from around the world.
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Review: The Irish Chamber Orchestra Focuses on Lesser-Known Works on ‘Invitation’
This collection of recordings, made over several years, serves as a documented retrospective of conductor Jörg Widmann’s ten-year tenure with the orchestra.
String Pioneers—Hungarian Violin Icon Panna Czinka Continues to Inspire
This unorthodox lyric poet and virtuoso violinist blazed the trail for female musicians and has inspired thousands.
Composers and Players Are Reimagining Music in an Age of Climate Crisis
Across the classical world, the climate crisis increasingly shapes how composers and performers think about their art.
The Creators of Forte3D Instruments Made a Deal on ‘Shark Tank,’ and Now They’ve Got to Keep Up with Demand
The effect of appearing on the ABC show was instantaneous: Not a day has passed since the air date without an order coming in.
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Did You Know . . . The Longest Symphony in the Standard Repertory Is Mahler’s Third?
It lasts about 100 minutes and is performed quite often, but it is far from the longest ever written.
Rethinking Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major
It’s possible to see the ultimate wedding piece as a template for, and model of,
group improvisation.
2026 College & Conservatory Directory
Explore our directory of College & Conservatory programs to find the school that may be right for you (or your students!) This special advertising section originally appeared in the September/October 2026 issue of Strings magazine.
String Pioneers—Violinist Marie Soldat-Roeger Broke Boundaries While Disseminating the Stylistic Conventions of Her Age
She was best-known for her interpretations of Brahms but also pioneered the all-women string quartet, setting an example for later generations of female musicians.
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Stephen Upshaw’s 300-Year-Old Viola Relishes Repertoire Both Old and New
The instrument, a beautiful and rare example by English maker Daniel Parker, was made in London around 1715.
Into the Light: Cellist Nicolas Altstaedt’s ‘Blackbirds’ Revisits a ’60s Hit and Celebrates the Obscure
Although the Beatles song of the same name is featured, ‘Blackbirds’ is not a collection of popular music from the ’60s arranged for cello. Instead it is repertoire that could be described as both classical and (mostly) rather obscure.
Review: Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas Showcase Their Mastery on ‘Meridians’
String masters at play.
String Pioneers—Violinist Eddie South’s Legacy Deserves Revisiting
More than six decades after South’s death, it’s still possible to hear his music, often on compilations or archival reproductions on the internet.
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5 Minutes with the Balourdet Quartet
At a time when many string quartet residencies are tied to universities or short-term engagements, the Balourdet Quartet has been part of a different kind of experiment in Seattle.
Gold Standard—London’s Historic Wigmore Hall Provides a Unique and Intimate Experience for Players and Audiences Alike
Wigmore Hall, the jewel in London’s musical crown, is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2026.
Teen Strings Games
Are you a budding player in need of a break from practicing scales and techniques? Take a time-out with these musical brain teasers!