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The article focuses on 30-year-old violinist Agustin Hadelich whose career was stalled in 1999 due to a tragic fire that damaged his upper body and right hand. Topics include Hadelich gaining an artist diploma from the Julliard School in 2004, winning the gold medal at the 2006 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis and recording a violin concerto by British composer Thomas Adès in June 2013. It also notes 2014 performances of Hadelich with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

The article focuses on the career of violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja. It says that conductor Ben Zarden is the first person to invite Kopatchinskaja to perform in U.S. It mentions several topics including classical music performance, second violin concerto of Kopatchinskaja in Boston, Massachusetts, and conductor James Blachly's statement regarding the performance of Kopatchinskaja.

The article offers information on several fiddlers at the forefront of their string-band movement. Hanneke Cassel was granted a scholarship to study at a Scottish-fiddle camp after she won a Scottish-fiddle contest. The lives of Tristan Clarridge and Tashina Clarridge revolved around their instruments, frequently driving important distances for fiddle camps and lessons. Billy Contreras has spent years finding about improvisational strategies.

The article features Czech avant-garde violinist and vocalist Iva Bittová. The music artist is cited for developing her own musical niche, playing the violin while singing and making all kinds of vocal sounds. Bittová recorded her first solo album on the ECM label in 2012. Her music is described as an amalgam of folk, rock, classical, and jazz tied together with a healthy dose of imagination and improvisation.

The article features violinist Andy Stein, who is part of the 11-piece band Nighthawks that played music from the 1920s and 1930s in New York City. It chronicles how the band survived in the field of music and managed to play in different gigs in the area. It also mentions Stein's success of developing his own unique image as session player and jack-of-all-trades musician through the help of his myriad styles and projects.

The article focuses on the preparation of violinist Sophie Mutter for the 25th anniversary celebration of her Carnegie Hall debut in New York City. It describes Mutter's experience during her debut performance at the Carnegie Hall on December 14, 1988 when she was 25 years old in which she played four violin standards. It also mentions Mutter's effort of preparing for the anniversary performance in which she will play with the New York Philharmonic and conductor Manfred Honeck.

The article features the Shanghai Quartet, comprised of violinists Weigang Li and Yi-Wen Jiang, violist Honggang Li, and cellist Nicholas Tzavaras, that celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2013. In the past 30 years, the Shanghais transitioned from four students with limited exposure to chamber music to an internationally known quartet, acknowledged for their interpretation of standard repertoire and new music. The members now spend time teaching at Montclair State University, in New Jersey.

The article focuses on the HEARTbeats foundation of cellist Lynn Harrell and violinist Helen Nightengale. It states that Harell and Nightengale together with a film crew, a music therapist and other volunteers went to Bhaktapur in Kathmandu, Nepal to teach children with artistic and musical skills. It says that several artists including Joan Baez, Paul Simon and John Williams collaborated in the music release "We'll Paint You a Rainbow," which was the fundraising project of the foundation.

The article announces that Glenn Dicterow is retiring as concertmastreer of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

The article focuses on YouTube sensation violinist Lindsey Stirling on tour while promoting her hit debut eponymous album at the Webster Hall in New York City. Stirling, it says, took violin lessons at six years of age until high school, finished a degree in therapeutic recreation and started making dance moves while playing the violin during her senior year in high school. It also notes that Stirling remains wholesome as a Mormon whose many followers are guys and gamers, 16 - 25 years old. INSETS: HOW TO BE A YOUTUBE SUCCESS;WHAT STIRLING PLAYS.

The article features violinist David Garrett who is currently in Manhattan, New York to promote his album "Legacy" that includes the Beethoven Violin Concerto and some light Kreisler fare. He is also involved in film as executive producer of "Paganini: The Devil's Violinist," where he helped write the script, recorded the soundtrack and will be playing the title character. He spends most of his time on the road playing classical concerts, concerti with orchestra and crossover shows.

The article features Jewish violinist Itzhak Perlman, who released his album "Eternal Echoes: Songs and Dances for the Soul" in 2012. While Perlman has recorded klezmer albums in 1990s, "Eternal Echoes" will be his first sacred and secular Jewish music-inspired album, in which he collaborated with Jewish Pavarotti, Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot. The album was described by Helfgot as something that has given a different color to this music as it is more unique, more interesting.

The article offers information on several string instruments and gear, including the Jonathan Li Model 503 Paganini violin, the Bowing Fun iPhone/iPad/iPod application developed by Paul Robinson, and the Fishman Loudbox Artist comb amplifier.

The article features the 18th-century violin and viola played by noted composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, flown to the U.S. in June 2013, accompanied by six employees of the Salzburg Mozarteum. The instruments, belonging to the Salzburg Mozarteum Foundation, appeared at the Boston Early Music Festival on June 10 ,2013, and were played by violinist Amandine Beyer and violist Milos Valent, then in New York where violinist and composer David Fulmer played it at the Austrian Cultural Forum.

An interview with New York Philharmonic principal cellist Carter Brey is presented. He discusses the importance of constantly practicing and studying the manuscript sources to playing the solo suites. He tells about playing a five-string cello using gut strings, Baroque bow and the E-string. He describes his approach to ornamentation, particularly to a note in the Fifth Suite by composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

The article offers tips for bowed string instrument players in the U.S. on commissioning a bow. Makers argue that commissioning can be a way of creating a perfect match for a player and instrument. Buyers can find makers in several ways, such as by word of mouth or through the website of the American Federation of Violin and Bowmakers. Bow makers emphasize that commissioning is a risk-free process, as clients are under no commitment to buy the final product.

The article discusses the projects of cellist Zuill Bailey such as the release of the "Elgar Concerto" with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra under conductor Krzysztof Urbanski. One primary goal of Bailey is to record things that are the core of cello literature while he teaches at the University of Texas in El Paso and serves as artistic director in Alaska for the Sitka Summer Music Festival. It also notes that Bailey played for the Hiland Mountain Correctional Center female inmates.

The article announces the 50th anniversary of the New York Youth Symphony in 2013. INSET: BUILDING LEADERS: THE NYYS CHAMBER-MUSIC PROGRAM.

The article profiles violist Garth Knox. It provides a short background on how he started playing viola, which he did to complete his family's quartet, and his career path wherein he worked as a violist in Pierre Boulez's Ensemble Intercontemporain and with the Arditti Quartet, which he left in 1997. It also cites the efforts of Knox to expand the modern repertoire for viola through collaborations with modern composers like Kaija Saariaho. INSET: What Garth Knox Plays.

The article reports on the release of the first album of cellist Alisa Weilerstein under the record label Decca Records. It provides a short information on her album, which features conductor Daniel Barenboim and the concerti composed by Elliott Carter, Edward Elgar, and Max Bruch. It also mentions that the concerto by Elgar has been special to her from a young age due to its intimacy and personal quality.

The article reports that the Linden String Quartet will perform at the 67th Caramoor International Music Festival in New York. The Linden Quartet is Ernst Stiefel quartet-in-residence. It is composed of violinists Sarah McElravy and Catherine Cosbey, violist Eric Wong, and cellist Felix Umansky. The Linden Quartet will play a program of Beethoven and Corigliano, and Kahane's "Come on All You Ghosts" for string quartet and voice.

The article profiles Midori Goto, a violinist, teacher, administrator and founder of several nonprofit arts organizations, and the chair of the string department and Jascha Heifetz chair at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music. Goto has been granted the 2012 Crystal Award for the outreach programs she created, including Midori & Friends and the Orchestra Residencies Program. She celebrates her 30th season in 2012 as a violinist with performances.

The article focuses on the life and works of violinist and string educator Lee England Jr. in the U.S. It recalls how England wanted to become a professional basketball player when he was a child, however, he did not make it, which prompted him to become a violinist. It also chronicles how England harnessed his talent as a violinist by studying different styles early in life and finished degrees in music performance, business, and education at the Southern Illinois University.

The article offers the author's insights on composer Joan Tower, and her composition "Wild Purple" for solo viola. She says that Tower is better known by violists as the composer of the three purple pieces, the "Wild Purple," "Simply Purple," and "Purple Rhapsody," which are all dedicated to violist Paul Neubauer. She states that the rhythms in "Wild Purple," the most well known among the three, can bee slightly dizzying.

The article features bassist David Grossman, who plays both classical and jazz music at extremely high level. He is a member of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. It claims that Grossman's album "The Bass of Both Worlds" includes both classical and jazz music. The opinion of former Grossman teacher and bassist Orin O'Brien on Grossman is also cited.

The article profiles violin soloist Joshua Bell, music director of the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. According to the author, NBell conducts not from the podium but as a concertmaster and is only the second music director in the history of the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. The author adds that Sony Classical will release Bell's first recording as music director of Beethoven's Fourth and Seventh symphonies. INSET: WHAT JOSHUA BELL PLAYS.

The article discusses the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center's presentation of the entire cycle of Dmitry Shostakovich quartets on March 13, 17, 19, 22 and 24, 2013 in New York. The cycle will also offer a series of lectures and quartet master class. During the 2010-2011 season, the Pacifica Quartet reportedly performed all 15 quartets at the Metropolitan Musuem of Art.

The article focuses on composer Johann Sebastian Bach's viola arrangement in his "Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, BWV 1051." It provides insights on Bach's scoring in this concerto, which is said to be unusual as most viola parts in his time were simple accompaniment parts. It suggests that Bach was challenging the social structure of his time through instrumentation by giving the violas prominent roles.

The article explores the qualities of the "Piano Quartet in G Minor, Op. 25," by Johannes Brahms. In the 1938 orchestration of the piece by Arnold Schoenberg, the author claims that the Tranquillo at m. 303 is one of his favorite moments. He states that the violin part should weave around the melodic line. For the second movement, the author states that all strings should either use or do not use mutes to create a different tone color. He adds that the third movement has martial quality.

The article reports that Russian violinist Alina Ibragimova has recorded her own version of Felix Mendelssohn's concerto. According to Ibragimova, a lot of musicians are too heavy in their interpretation of Mendelssohn's music, with most doing a lot of things that are not necessary. Her recording of Mendelssohn's music will be released under the label Hyperion and will feature conductor Vladimir Jurowski and the London, England-based Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of playing the Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor.

The article recommends upgrading the bow in order to improve the sound of stringed instruments. A bow can either bring out the brighter, high tones or accentuate the lower sounds, and can concentrate or disperse sound. The type and quality of the bow wood are said to be very essential. Players and makers believe the best way to shop for a bow is to try a lot of them. Since older bows are frequently more expensive, price is not always an indicator of a bow's quality.

The article profiles the late violist and composer Quincy Porter. Porter was born in 1897 in New Haven, Connecticut, and studied with Horatio Parker at Yale University. He co-founded the American Music Center with five of his contemporaries. He wrote just a few concertos and orchestral works, including the Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra. In 1930, Porter wrote the Suite for Viola Alone, which is reportedly winning fans almost 75 years after it was written.

The article previews the music release featuring a collection of sonatas composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, performed by violinist Lara St. John and harpist Marie-Pierre Langlamet.

The article provides information on the Piatigorsky International Cello Festival to be held in Los Angeles, California on March 9-18, 2012.

The article reports on the auction of maestro Lorin Maazel's 1783 Giovannu Battista Guadagnini violin which fetched 1,080,000 dollars that will go to the Castleton Festival and was previously owned by Maazel's teacher, Vladimir Bakaleinikoff.

The article reports on Joseph Lin's addition as the Juilliard String Quartet's first violinist joining Ronald Copes, Samuel Rhodes, and Joel Krosnick. The quartet which resides at the Juilliard School, is indicated to be a continuously evolving ensemble since its founding in 1946. Lin is described to have attended Juilliard Pre-College where he received a faculty appointment to teach violin students and coach chamber music groups, and considers the membership in the quarter as a homecoming.

The article reviews the virtual orchestra software Music + One.

The article features 48-year-old violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter as she reflects on her new CD of world premieres and a 40-CD box set of her 35-year recording history released in September 2011. She admits that the best memories of her recording career are those involving live performances, such as the Brahms G major sonata with pianist Lambert Orkis. She describes her interpretation of the Mozart concertos, claiming that her playing has become more vertical with a more lean and transparent sound.

The article deals with the increasing popularity of fund-raising projects on the web with the participation of string players. The website GoFund Me is commonly used by musicians such as bass violinist Shirley Hunt to raise money for her dream performance. The other websites that offer similar opportunities to musicians include the Kickstarter, IndieGoGo and DonorsChoose.

The article discusses the viability of crowdfunding campaigns to raise funds for musicians and musical performances. Musicians challenged by dwindling traditional arts funding may tap crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter and Indie-GoGo to raise funds for recording projects, music videos and other needs as well as connect with a broader audience. Among those who have successfully used crowdfunding are Philadelphia-based cellist Daniel de Jesus and Switzerland-based Excelsa Quartet.

The article offers tips on how music students can find the best college teacher for them. It stresses the important role played by the music teacher in the learning experience and career of a student. It mentions that summer festivals or camps serve as the best venue to meet music teachers. Other ways in finding a prospective music mentor are discussed including electronic mail (e-mail) correspondence and trial or recruiting lesson.

The article details the author's conversation with American violinist Jennifer Koh about her series of solo violin recitals entitled "Bach and Beyond." She pointed out that the pieces in the first recital program include selections from works by German composer Johann Bach. She described the second recital program as a series of first works for solo violin including a work by Luciano Berio and Bach's "First Sonata." She revealed that the third program is packed with fugues.

The article provides information about the Carpe Diem String Quartet. Formed in 2004, the group is composed of violionists Charles Wetherbee and John Ewing, violist Korine Fujiwara, and cellist Diego Fainguersch. They have already collaborated with the Columbus Dance Theater, Yo-Yo Ma, and accordionist and bandoneonist Peter Soave. The quarter also performs for outreach programs in schools, nursing homes, and hospices, plays for school programs, and created videogame music.

The article discusses the things that should be considered before posting an update on www.twitter.com or tweeting. The author suggests browsing first before tweeting. According to the author, Twitter can be used to personalize one's self and as a marketing tool. Observing tweetiquette or twitter's own etiquette rules like using the @ symbol when talking directly to someone or using RT abbreviation when retweeting something is also suggested.

The article features violinist Lucia Micarelli, who is featured in the "Treme" television series from HBO, about jazz musicians in New Orleans, Louisiana, after Hurricane Katrina. It mentions the accident which left her arm in a cast, rendering her unable to play the violin for several weeks. Micarelli studied with violin teacher Dorothy DeLay at the pre-college division of Juillard School and has toured with pop singer Josh Groban and pop-jazz trumpeter Chris Botti. Her preparations for her role in "Treme" are also discussed.

The article features the Attaca Quartet, composed of violinists Amy Schroeder and Keiko Tokunaga, violist Luke Fleming, and cellist Andrew Yee, the Julliard Graduate Resident String Quartet, that celebrates their ten-year anniversary in 2013. In March 2013, the Attaca Quartet released their debut recording "Fellow Traveler," a disc of complete works for string quartet by composer John Adams. They will be finishing their performances of all 68 quartets by composer Joseph Haydn in New York City.

The article reviews the D'Addario Kaplan viola strings from D'Addario.

An interview with baroque violinist Annette Isserlis of the Royal College of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music is presented. She discusses the historical performance practice in Great Britain. She cites that existing symphony orchestras are becoming knowledgeable of the period-instrument way of playing and copying the articulation. She also explains the historical-performance practice.

The article profiles German-born violist Walter Trampler, a founding member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.