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Laurie Niles

Laurie Niles

Founder, Editor & Publisher at Violin Blogs

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Recent Articles

violinist.com

ASTA 2025: Yumi Kendall and Joseph Conyers - Changing the World Through Music

Last week thousands of music educators, students and exhibitors gathered for the 2025 <a href="https://www.astastrings.org/">American String Teachers Association</a> National Conference, which took place from Wednesday through Saturday at Atlanta's Hyatt Regency Hotel, alongside the <a href="https://suzukiassociation.org/">Suzuki Association of the Americas</a>' Leadership Summit. The conference offered four days of about 250 classes and workshops on pedagogy and other topics related to music education, with jam sessions, performances, showcases and an Exhibit Hall with about 90 exhibitors. ASTA's <a href="https://www.astastrings.org/site/national-orchestra-festival">National Orchestra Festival</a> also took place at the same time, featuring some 37 middle and high school orchestras that traveled to Atlanta from all over the continent to perform and participate in competitions and receive ratings. To officially begin the conference on Thursday, two highly accomplished musicians and educators who are b
12 days ago
violinist.com

The Week in Reviews, Op. 490: Hilary Hahn; Joshua Bell; Rachel Bart...

In an effort to promote the coverage of live violin performance, Violinist.com each week presents links to reviews of notable concerts and recitals around the world. Click on the highlighted links to read the entire reviews. <b>Hilary Hahn</b>, in her first performance following a seven-month hiatus to recover from a nerve injury, performed the Brahms Violin Concerto with the New York Philharmonic and Matthias Pintscher.<ul><li><a href="https://newyorkclassicalreview.com/2025/02/after-extended-break-hahn-returns-in-memorable-brahms-with-philharmonic/">New York Classical Review</a>: "As for Hahn, not only did she show absolutely no ill effects, she came close to exploding with what seemed pent up physical and intellectual energy....Hahn was tremendous. Her technical virtuosity and big, clear, ringing sound are a given, and there is no one who equals her in this concerto. What was special Wednesday was how she played with something close to fury."</li></ul>
about 1 month ago
violinist.com

The Week in Reviews, Op. 489: Janine Jansen; Isabelle Faust; Stella...

In an effort to promote the coverage of live violin performance, Violinist.com each week presents links to reviews of notable concerts and recitals around the world. Click on the highlighted links to read the entire reviews. <b>Janine Jansen</b> performed Bernstein's "Serenade" with the London Symphony Orchestra and Antonio Pappano in Santa Barbara, Calif., as part of the orchestra's U.S. Tour.<ul><li><a href="https://www.sfcv.org/articles/review/london-symphony-orchestra-begins-us-tour-panache">San Francisco Classical Voice</a>: "Dutch violinist Janine Jansen impressed with measured depth and subtlety in her treatment of Bernstein’s solo part, and all was relatively right with the world for a couple of hours....Jansen’s eloquence and effortless range of expression and the LSO’s stylistic elasticity tracked with every sudden change in the score while still giving the piece an arcing narrative through line."</li></ul>
about 1 month ago
violinist.com

Musicians Gift Concert Clothing to Colleagues Affected by Fires

When Long Beach Symphony Orchestra concertmaster <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-leslie-and-roger-after-the-fires">Roger Wilkie</a> and LA Opera principal oboist Leslie Reed fled their Pacific Palisades house on January 7 under a fire evacuation, they didn't take much beyond their instruments, the cat and a few documents. "Once the official evacuation order came out, we evacuated very quickly," Wilkie said. "We thought we might be away for a couple of nights, so we just got the essentials. I had only the shirt I was wearing and a couple of other items, thrown very quickly into a suitcase." Something he certainly did not bring along: his tuxedo with tails. Very unfortunately, their house was one of the 6,000+ homes that burned down in the Pacific Palisades fire, along with 7,000 in Altadena in the Eaton Fire. They lost their home and everything that was in it. In the face of this extremely painful situation came the stress of finding a place to stay, first in the short-term, and then long
about 1 month ago
violinist.com

Hilary Hahn Returns to the Concert Stage After Injury

Following a seven-month recovery from a double-pinched nerve, violinist Hilary Hahn has announced her return to the concert stage at the end of February. Hilary will play the Brahms Violin Concerto in a four-concert series with the New York Philharmonic, led by conductor Herbert Blomstedt. The concerts are Feb. 26, 27, March 1 and 2, <a href="https://www.nyphil.org/concerts-tickets/2425/blomstedt-hahn/">click here</a> for information and tickets. "Coming back to perform with this orchestra feels like a homecoming - they're family to me, and it's especially meaningful to build upon our wonderful residency collaboration from last season," Hilary said in a statement on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hilaryhahn">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGTr0ZrxnDR/">Instagram</a>. Following the Feb. 27 performance, Hilary will join violinist Amaryn Olmeda, cellist Seth Parker Woods and pianist Conor Hanick to perform with New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck and dancers Roman
about 1 month ago
violinist.com

Concert Reunites Neighbors Following LA Fires

"Are things getting better?" A well-meaning young student asked me this question, referring to January fires that burned down most of the community of Altadena, Calif., just two miles to my north. She lives in a different part of town and just wanted to know how things were going. I had no easy answer for this question. "The problem is," I said carefully, "that you can't un-burn down someone's house, once it has burned down." Tens of thousands of people - 7,000 homes in Altadena, and another 6,000 in the Pacific Palisades - no longer have that place that they called home for years, or decades, or even generations. They don't have their neighborhood, their school, their church, their grocery store, their park. Everyone had to leave, so they might not ever see certain people again - their neighbors, the characters in their daily lives. They definitely never will see certain places again, because those places no longer exist. <div align="center"><img src="https://www.violinist.com/art/2025/Gira
about 1 month ago
violinist.com

For the Record, Op. 320: María Dueñas, Simone Porter, Danbi Um, Pat...

Welcome to "For the Record," Violinist.com's weekly roundup of new releases of recordings by violinists, violists, cellists and other classical musicians. We hope it helps you keep track of your favorite artists, as well as find some new ones to add to your listening! Click on the highlighted links to obtain each album or learn more about the artists. <b><a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/PAGANINI-24-Caprices-Mar%C3%ADa-Due%C3%B1as-13622">Paganini: 24 Caprices</a></b> <a href="https://www.mariaduenasviolin.com/en">María Dueñas</a>, violin <blockquote>Spanish violinist María Dueñas plays all of Nicolò Paganini’s wickedly difficult 24 Caprices, as well as a selection of later works inspired by Paganini, presenting music by composers ranging from Berlioz and Kreisler to Gabriela Ortiz. "Paganini’s 24 Caprices are a milestone for every violinist," Dueñas said. "I grew up listening to and performing them, and when we hear the word 'caprice' we instantly think of Pagani
about 2 months ago
violinist.com

50 Modern Violins, Violas and Cellos Come from Italy to US for Exhibit

I've always wanted to go to Cremona, Italy - birthplace of the great violin maker Antonio Stradivarius (1644-1737). It's a place that has re-emerged now in the 21st century as a center of fine violin-making, as well as an entire museum dedicated to the violin - the <a href="https://museodelviolino.org/en/">Museo del Violino</a>. <img src="https://www.violinist.com/blog/laurie/Cremonamap.jpg" width=250 height=259 alt="Cremona" align=right hspace=5>Fortunately, a little bit of Cremona is coming to the Los Angeles area on Feb. 18-19, when some 50 stringed instruments made by 40+ living luthiers from Cremona will be featured at Metzler Violin Shop in Glendale in its <a href="https://www.metzlerviolins.com/service/events/">Cremonese Violin Exhibition & Sale</a>. "Most string players associate Cremona, Italy with its famous 16th- and 17th-century luthier families, such as the Amatis, Guarneris, Ruggieris, and Stradivaris," said Thomas Metzler, owner and founder of Metzler Violin Shop. "But today, some 300 ye
about 2 months ago
violinist.com

Weekend vote: Do you have a carbon fiber bow?

Traditionally, bows have been made with wood - more specifically, the best ones tend to be make with a rare Brazilian wood called pernambuco. In recent years, this wood has become even more rare, and in fact it is endangered. At the same time, carbon fiber bows - first introduced in the mid 20th century - have improved in quality and become much more commonplace. When it comes to bows for children's (fractional) violins, it's hard to argue with the price and durability of a carbon fiber bow. Plus - they do not put pressure on already endangered supplies of pernambuco wood. Of course, not all carbon fiber bows are created equal - they range from absolutely beautifully balanced at the higher end, to a complete mess at the lower end. Do you have a carbon fiber bow? And if you do, is it your primary bow? Secondary bow? Something that sits unused? If you don't have a carbon fiber bow, have you ever tried one, and would you ever consider using one? Please participate in the vote and then share your thoug
about 2 months ago
violinist.com

The Week in Reviews, Op. 486: Anne Akiko Meyers; Maxim Venerov; Aug...

In an effort to promote the coverage of live violin performance, Violinist.com each week presents links to reviews of notable concerts and recitals around the world. Click on the highlighted links to read the entire reviews. <b>Anne Akiko Meyers</b> performed Arturo Márquez’s "Fandango" for Violin and Orchestra with the Sarasota Orchestra and Giancarlo Guerrero.<ul><li><a href="https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2025/jan/31/review-masterworks-heroic-spirit/">Observer</a>: "Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers’ stunning virtuosity in Arturo Márquez’s Fandango for Violin and Orchestra combined with the all-out commitment of musicians and conductor splashed all the treasures of music before us. Everyone begged for more. "</li></ul>
about 2 months ago
violinist.com

Pasadena Symphony Helps Community Grieve and Give After Fires

The concert was about to begin last Saturday, and I looked across the stage at my colleague <a href="https://pasadenasymphony-pops.org/artist/irina-voloshina/">Irina Voloshina</a>, sitting right by the audience in the first violins. I could see she was having a hard time holding back the tears. <a href=https://pasadenasymphony-pops.org/symphony-series-2024-25/">Pasadena Symphony</a> conductor <a href="https://www.brettmitchellconductor.com/">Brett Mitchell</a> was finishing his opening words, acknowledging that it had been a very difficult few weeks in the community of Pasadena and Altadena, California, where the Eaton Canyon fire had reduced a huge portion of the area to rubble and ash over the course of one night. Irina's home had burned to the ground during the fire. She was out of the country when it happened, but - thankfully - she had called a friend to retrieve her violin from the house. However - the violin was the only thing that was rescued. At the time, it had seemed unthinkable that the fir
2 months ago