By Stephanie Powell
The Si-Hon Ma estate has gifted the 1714 “Joachim-Ma” Strad violin to the New England Conservatory. Ma, an NEC alumnus, purchased the violin in 1967 and performed with it until his death in 2009. The 300-year-old instrument was previously owned by Joseph Joachim, which was one of ten Strads he owned during his life.
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The instrument is scheduled to debut on April 23 at an NEC student and faculty recital–current NEC student and 2016 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient Alexi Kenney will perform on the Strad. A second performance is scheduled for April 27, when Kenney will perform John Adams’ Violin Concerto with the NEC Philharmonia.