Strings Stories

This story was written by Megan Westberg for the November-December 2023 issue of Strings magazine and is read by the author.

Through its repertoire choices and general performing ethos, the Kaleidoscope Chamber Ensemble is hoping audiences have a great time. “Joy! Enthusiasm! Pieces that people haven’t heard a million times!” says Urioste of what she’s excited to share. “We hope that young people, people who love clapping between movements and tapping their feet to the beat, people who have never been to a classical concert before, people who have been to countless classical concerts before but want to hear something they maybe haven’t heard before and smile because our energy is contagious will come to share the music with us!” 

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This story was written by Cliff Hall for the November-December 2023 issue of Strings magazine and is read by Megan Westberg, Editor.

Way up in the Northwoods of Wisconsin on the shores of Pickerel Lake is a small cadre of cabins on about 14 acres of bucolic land. Named “Fiddle Sticks,” this compact compound was the birthplace of some of the most valuable American violins ever built. But the output of those violins depended entirely upon how the fish ran.

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Editor Megan Westberg shares highlights from the latest issue of Strings magazine and gives a behind-the-scenes look at how and why we started this Strings Stories project.

Get your copy of the November-December 2023 issue here. It's available in both print and digital editions. And, to be sure you never miss a new issue, why not subscribe? Strings Stories listeners get a special deal.

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This story was written by Brian Wise for the September-October 2023 issue of Strings magazine and is read by Megan Westberg, Editor.

Aleksey Igudesman, the violinist half of comedy duo Igudesman & Joo, is no fan of the ritualized behaviors of classical performance. “Let’s be honest—the whole situation is ridiculous,” he says. “If aliens came down and went into the concert hall, they’d see people walking out dressed like penguins. People bow solemnly and don’t speak. All these weird rituals and self-righteous looks. The music they would get—the music is passionate, funny, fun, diverse. But the whole thing around it?”'

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