Monthly archive
10 headlines
Source-linked reporting
theviolinchannel.com
The Violin Channel reports that a warrant was issued for a 23-year-old man from Ellington, Connecticut, Michael Devaughn Porter, who allegedly stole and sold his mother’s 19th century German violin valued at more than $65,000 to fund a drug habit. He faces first-degree larceny and additional larceny charges related to illegally using his mother’s credit cards and bank accounts.
slippedisc.com
Anthea Kreston of the Artemis Quartet recounts the theft of her violin in a Süddeutsche Zeitung magazine feature, translated by Anthea and republished with permission. The article describes the January 2016 incident on an ICE train and the circumstances surrounding the loss of the instrument.
theviolinchannel.com
The Violin Channel reports the 2016 8th Louis Spohr International Violin Competition in Weimar, Germany, announcing category prize winners for three age groups. Winners include Shihan Wang, Hana Chang, and Marley Erickson for Category 1; Anne Luisa Kramb, Elias David Moncado, and Sophia Su for Category 2; Angela Sin Ying Chan, Sumina Studer, and Mairéad Hickey for Category 3. Monetary prizes of €1,750, €2,500, and €3,500 were awarded to category winners, plus €500 vouchers and additional €500 awards for special interpretations and EMCY prizes.
theviolinchannel.com
The Violin Channel reports a giveaway of 5 signed VC Artists Dover Quartet CDs titled ‘Tribute: Dover Quartet Plays Mozart,’ featuring Mozart quartets and quintet with Guarneri violist Michael Tree. The entry link is http://s.heyo.com/75cfce and entries close November 22, 2016.
washingtonpost.com
Robert Yuan (author) and Yuan Lin of Bethesda, Md.; Rosalind and Sung-Hou Kim of Moraga, Calif. visit Cremona, Mantua and Bergamo in Lombardy, Italy, highlighting Cremona's violin making tradition and the Museum of the Violin with a collection of about 10 instruments.
benningviolins.com
The article reports that distinguished violinist Mitchell (Mitch) Newman, a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, has acquired a Guarneri-model violin crafted by Los Angeles luthier Eric Benning. The instrument was modeled from a mold by the late Carl Becker and completed in 2016 after Benning studied with Becker; Newman praises the instrument and its playability.
theviolinchannel.com
Francisco Fullana, a VC Young Artist from Spain, has been granted long-term use of the 1735 ‘Mary Portman’ Guarneri del Gesu violin. The article notes his Juilliard education, current USC Artist Diploma studies, prior competition wins, and his appointment as Principal Violinist of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.
ingleshayday.com
The Ingles & Hayday auction featured a violin crafted from one of Winston Churchill’s cigar boxes, which sold for £5,500 to Gerry O’Brien, owner of The Churchill Arms in Kensington, London. The instrument was made by William Robinson (1880-1960) of Plumstead and bears labels and inscriptions linked to Churchill; Yehudi Menuhin reportedly played it in 1958.
theviolinchannel.com
The article reports that Gabor Draskoczy, a London-based luthier, won dual gold medals for both Violin Tone and Violin Workmanship at the 2016 Violin Society of America International Instrument and Bow Making Competition in Cleveland. Other gold and silver medal recipients in various categories (violin bow, viola bow, cello bow) are listed, including Cody Kowalski, Emmanuel Bégin, Emmanuel Carlier, Eric Fournier, Jinlong Yang, Justin Hess, Yunhai Xu, Piotr Pielaszek, Rainer Beilharz, Andrew Ryan, and Emmanuel Bégin. The Violin Society of America, founded in 1973, promotes making, repairing, and preserving stringed instruments and bows.
theviolinchannel.com
Yoo Na Ha of South Korea won first prize at the 2016 Mirecourt International Violin Competition in Mirecourt, France, receiving €5,000 (USD 5,400) presented by the City of Mirecourt and the Lions Club. Second prize went to Carla Ines Marrero Martinez of Spain, while Eimi Wakui and Hana Wakamatsu, both from Japan, won third and fourth prizes respectively.