By Stephanie Powell It seems violinist Lara St. John was fated to become a knight. Her latest accolade, being knighted as a Chevalier du Tastevins, or Knight of Burgundy, aligns seamlessly with her love of wine and love for the dragon…
The cello has been through some ‘rough times,’ but keeps getting better Player Between 2012 and 2015, German cellist Alban Gerhardt was the artist-in-residence at the Oregon Symphony Orchestra and in 2014 and 2015 is an artist-in-focus at Wigmore Hall.…
From Long Island to Louisiana, violin shops aren’t just for selling instruments By Louise Lee For some violin shop owners, minding the store means much more than doing repairs and selling instruments and accessories. Al Marabella, owner of Blackerby Violin…
Two quartets take on a powerhouse residency program at Stony Brook University By Laurence Vittes At one of the Calidore String Quartet’s first rehearsals in 2010, back when the three Americans and one Canadian were still students at the Colburn Conservatory…
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A quartet that’s changing the game of chamber music By Leah Hollingsworth The Kronos Quartet has long been known for its innovative approach to the string quartet, re-imagining what the chamber ensemble can do. Kronos’ interest in working with diverse…
Behind the scenes: Repairing violins can be more than restoring function to a damaged fiddle, it can be art By Andrew Carruthers You never know what you’ll find opening up an old stringed instrument. Players may know that their violin,…
5 things frets add to your playing By Gregory Walker Who at one time or another hasn’t wished their fingerboard had frets? No more getting lost in high positions, no more playing out of tune. Frets make a lot of…
Roots musician and violin dealer David Bromberg’s collection of vintage violins is legendary By Erin Shrader Editor’s Note: David Bromberg is the subject of the recent PBS-TV Film Anatomy documentary David Bromberg Unsung Treasure. Since this article first appeared in…
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Chamber groups face 21st-century challenges with unbridled passion By Patrick Sullivan They are four superbly talented musicians. They form a world-class chamber ensemble that has racked up two Grammy nominations, regularly debuts works by top composers, and plays more than…
Surprise announcement catches patrons and fans off guard By Whitney Phaneuf The New York Philharmonic has announced that music director Alan Gilbert will leave his position in 2017. The conductor and violinist will have served eight seasons by the end of…
Violin maker Robert Brewer Young creates a unique foursome as a centerpiece for a personal mission By Greg Olwell Robert Brewer Young addresses the audience at a house concert/fundraiser in Sausalito, California, March 8, 2015. Behind him sits the musicians who…