Monthly archive
17 headlines
Source-linked reporting
The Strad
The Strad reported that the Cleveland Orchestra appointed violinist Elizabeth Fayette as first associate concertmaster and violinist Philip Marten as associate concertmaster, added violinist Dustin Wilkes-Kim to the second violin section and violist Gabriel Napoli to the viola section, and promoted violinist Zhan Shu to assistant concertmaster. No instrument makers were named.
theviolinchannel.com
Cellist Giovanni Gnocchi releases a new recording featuring the 1700 Stauffer ex Cristiani Stradivarius cello, preserved at the Museo del Violino in Cremona. The album marks the first-ever recording of this instrument and includes Romantic-era works by Ducros, Mendelssohn, Klengel, Scriabin, Wieniawski, Dvořák, Fauré, Popper, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, and Rossini.
dnyuz.com
The article discusses a dendrochronology study published in Dendrochronologia that analyzes tree rings from Stradivarius violins to determine wood origins, suggesting spruce from high-elevation northern Italy in the valley that hosted part of the 2026 Winter Olympics; the study involved John Topham’s measurements and Mauro Bernabei’s analysis at the Italian National Research Council.
The Strad
The Strad reported that violinist Chad Hoopes was appointed associate professor of violin at the Cleveland Institute of Music, effective autumn 2026, while keeping his post at Southern Methodist University. The article notes that Hoopes plays a 1991 violin by Samuel Zygmuntowicz that was formerly owned by Isaac Stern.
theviolinchannel.com
The Violin Channel reports that cellist Julian Lloyd Webber will publish an autobiography titled “Bows and Arrows” via Biteback Publishing, detailing his life, collaborations with notable artists, and personal challenges. The piece notes his career highlights, including a Brit Award, a gold disc for Variations, his role with the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and his In Harmony education work.
theviolinchannel.com
The Anders Sveaas Charitable Trust loans two instruments to the Danish String Quartet: a Domenico Montagnana violin (1730–1740) to violinist Frederik Øland, and a 1687 Ruggieri cello plus a Sartory cello bow to cellist Fredrik Sjölin. The article notes the quartet’s international success in classical and Nordic folk repertoires and mentions other musicians who have recently received instruments from the trust.
The Strad
The Strad reported that the Norway-based Anders Sveaas Charitable Trust loaned two instruments to members of the Danish String Quartet: violinist Frederik Oland received a violin made by Domenico Montagnana in Venice around 1730 to 1740, while cellist Fredrik Sjolin was loaned a 1687 cello by Francesco Rugeri along with a Sartory cello bow. The trust's collection is said to include eleven Antonio Stradivari instruments plus works by Guadagnini, Amati, Ruggieri and Montagnana. No price was stated.
The Strad
The Strad reported that 21-year-old violinist Lorna Zhang won first prize of 10,000 New Zealand dollars (about 4,400 pounds) at New Zealand's 2026 National Concerto Competition, held on 7 March 2026 at Christchurch Town Hall with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Judd, after playing Shostakovich's Violin Concerto no.1. Violinist Hayden Chiu took second prize (5,000 New Zealand dollars) and cellist Ryan Yeh took third (2,500 New Zealand dollars). No instrument makers were named.
The Strad
The Strad reported that violinist Maxim Vengerov stepped in for an indisposed Lisa Batiashvili to play the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major with the Philharmonia Orchestra in London on Sunday 22 March 2026, with conductor Mark Wigglesworth also replacing Santtu-Matias Rouvali. No instrument maker or price was stated.
The Strad
The Strad reported that management agency Harrison Parrott signed cellist Friedrich Thiele to its roster. The article notes that Thiele plays a cello by Francesco Goffriller of about 1740, on loan from the Stradivari Foundation. No price was stated.
The Strad
The Strad reported that US-Japanese violinist Keila Wakao won first prize of 12,000 dollars and a soloist engagement with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra at the 2026 National Schadt String Competition, held on 8 March 2026 at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in a year focused on violin. Second prize (5,000 dollars) went to Yebin Yoo and third prize (2,500 dollars) to Juyeon Diana Lee. No instrument makers were named.
standard.co.uk
Ahmed Sami Madour, 46, is accused of stealing a violin worth £150,000 from the Marquess Tavern in Canonbury Street, Islington, from violinist David Ibanez of the Philharmonia Orchestra. The instrument, crafted in Florence in 1740, was loaned to Ibanez; Madour faces two counts of theft and appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court with trial dates set for May 10, 2027.
The Strad
The Strad reported that German violinist Miha Zhu, 29, won first prize of 20,000 euros plus a 2,000 euro audience prize at the 2026 Leipzig Bach Competition, which concluded on 21 March 2026 at the Lutherkirche in Leipzig. French violinist Celeste Lingelschmitt, 23, took second prize (10,000 euros and a four-year Baroque violin loan) and Dutch violinist Cosima Soulez-Laviere, 29, took third (5,000 euros). No instrument makers were named.
The Strad
A man, Ahmed Sami Madour, 46, was charged on 19 January 2026 at Snaresbrook Crown Court over the theft of a 1740 Carcassi violin valued at 150,000 pounds, which was taken from the Marquess Tavern in north London on 18 February 2025. The instrument had been on loan from a German benefactor to its player, Philharmonia Orchestra violinist David Lopez Ibanez. Madour pleaded not guilty and a trial was scheduled for 10 May 2027.
The Strad
In its In Focus series, The Strad examined a 1695 viola by the Bohemian maker Christian Reichelt of the Markneukirchen region, in an analysis by Klaus Martius and Enrico Weller. The subscriber feature notes that Reichelt was baptised on 7 January 1631 in Graslitz, Bohemia, and died in Markneukirchen before 31 May 1697.
aol.com
The article reports that Ahmed Sami Madour has been charged with two counts of theft in connection with the theft of a 286-year-old violin from the Marquess Tavern in North London. The instrument, a 1740 Florence-made Lorenzo Carcassi violin valued at over $200,000, was loaned to violinist David Lopez Ibanez of the Philharmonia Orchestra who was dining at the tavern when it disappeared.
northlondonnews.co.uk
Ahmed Sami Madour, 46, from Leytonstone, east London, has been charged with two counts of theft. He is accused of stealing a £150,000 antique violin made in Florence in 1740 by Lorenzo Carcassi, plus three bows, from the Marquess Tavern in Islington on 18 February 2025; he also faces a charge for stealing a £4,000 guitar the same day. The violin was loaned to violinist David López Ibáñez of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Madour appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court, pleaded not guilty, was granted unconditional bail, and his trial is set for 10 May 2027.