On Aug 31, the Poeisis Quartet emerged from among three ensembles to win first prize at the 15 th edition of the Banff (CA) International String Quartet Competition, held every three years. The Cincinnati-based foursome—violinists Sarah … » Read

Reports last week that five-time Oscar winner John Williams did not like film music had tongues wagging throughout the classical world. “Au contraire,” says Tim Greiving, whose new biography of the iconic composer was the source, … » Read

Jonathan Cohen is stepping down as music director of the Les Violons du Roy after more than a decade with the Quebec-based ensemble. He debuted as guest conductor in the 2014-2015 season and over the intervening years has conducted 119 … » Read

Christina Scheppelmann, newly named general and artistic director of Belgium’s La Monnaie, has announced that longtime Music Director Alain Altinoglu has agreed to stay on through 2031. He will have been in the job 15 years. … » Read

Congressional acquiescence to Donald Trump’s demand that $1.1 billion previously allocated for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) be cancelled threatens the continued existence of 245 public radio stations in rural communities. … » Read

The Youngstown (OH) Symphony Orchestra musicians, whose current contract expires August 31, report that the Youngstown Symphony Society (YSS) has not reached out for renewal or update talks, nor has it announced the coming season, a violation of … » Read

The Jupiter String Quartet has appointed violinist Mélanie Clapiès as the successor to Nelson Lee, who has been a member of the foursome for 24 years and has recently accepted a position at McGill University. This fall the French … » Read

The future of the 60-year-old Eastern Music Festival is uncertain. The five-week event, cancelled this summer for only the second time in its history (the first was during the pandemic), normally enrolls about 250 students and 60 artists, the … » Read

Few things distress Ivan Hewett more than the classical recording charts. “The endless lists of crossover and ambient pap,” grouses the Telegraph’s classical critic, have replaced “something real and substantial.” … » Read

The coming year will see some faculty changes at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music . Matthew Brady , an assistant professor of Choral Studies since 2024, will move from interim to director of the department, succeeding Amanda … » Read