Stamford Strings

01/09/2026

🪎Finalists Announced!
Brazenose Violin Competition Final​
We are excited to announce the nine finalists that have been selected to perform to our panel of judges on 10 October. They will compete to win a Brazenose Violin​, with additional prizes kindly sponsored by . This event is about much more than prizes though, it is about the opportunity to perform, and the chance for us to support young musicians in their journey, with their aspirations and their potential.
With this in mind, the Final is open to the public, presenting a unique opportunity to hear a wide variety of repertoire played by a select group of young violinists. Show your support by coming along.
👋 Meet the Finalists 👋

Sebastian Taylor - 20, student at Cambridge University, studies violin with Michael Bochmann
Rebecca-May Bartlett - 12, student at The Purcell School, studies violin with Alex Redington
Tracy Zhao - 16, student at The Yehudi Menuhim School, studies violin with Nazrin Rashidova
Ciara Glasswell - 22, Masters graduate from Newcastle Univerity, studies violin with Iona Brown
Farah Ashby - 16, student at The Purcell School, studies violin with Charles Sewart
Clarice Ngo - 14, studies violin at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Junior Conservatoire with Timothy English
Jasmine Anastasia Krol - 14, studies violin with Leon King at Peterborough Centre for Young Musicians and also with Katarzyna Liwińska
Sophie Beck - 17, studies violin with Laura Gardiner and is a member of The Oasby Group
Amisa Kuroda - 14, student at Chethams School of Music and studies violin with Yumi Sasaki
BUY TICKETS FOR THE FINAL on Stamford Strings website.

29/07/2026

ENTRIES CLOSE THIS SATURDAY!
We are absolutely loving your entries! If you haven’t entered yet it’s not too late, but it soon will be as entries close at midnight on Saturday 1 August.
We are buzzing about this event! The day itself is going to be such an amazing time! Please share and spread the word!

20/07/2026

We are loving getting your entries for the Brazenose Violin Competition 2026! 🎻
It’s not too late to enter but hurry as the closing date is 1 August which is coming around quickly!
We’ve rounded up some of the most common questions we’ve received so far. If there’s anything else you’d like to know, leave us a comment or send us a message and we’ll be happy to help.
Open to violinists aged 12–24, the competition offers the opportunity to perform in front of an internationally respected judging panel and compete for a range of prizes, including a handcrafted Brazenose Fuoco Violin, a performance opportunity in the Brazenose Chamber Concert Series 2027 and Pirastro accessories and strings. We are grateful to Pirastro for sponsoring the competition.
📅 Applications close: 1 August 2026
Good luck to everyone preparing their application ✨

07/07/2026

Escape the Heat

🌡️ Cool down in St Martin’s Church, away from the heat

With another warm summer weekend ahead, why not take a break from the heat and spend your Saturday evening somewhere a little more comfortable?

Step inside St Martin’s Church, Stamford and enjoy an evening of live music from acclaimed cellist Michael Petrov and pianist Susie Summers.

The church provides the perfect backdrop for a relaxed and memorable evening. Away from the hustle and bustle, you’ll be able to sit back, unwind, and enjoy music performed by two exceptional musicians in an intimate setting.

Whether you’re a regular at live music events or simply looking for something different to do this weekend, it’s a wonderful opportunity to spend an evening immersed in great music and good company.

🎻 Live music in a cool, peaceful historic venue

✨ A relaxed and atmospheric summer evening

🎶 A chance to unwind and experience something different

🎟️ £5–£21 tickets available via link in bio or on the door

📍 St Martin’s Church, Stamford

🕢 Saturday evening

24/06/2026

Thinking about entering the Brazenose Violin Competition 2026? 🎻
We’ve rounded up some of the most common questions we’ve received so far. If there’s anything else you’d like to know, leave us a comment or send us a message and we’ll be happy to help.
Open to violinists aged 12–24, the competition offers the opportunity to perform in front of an internationally respected judging panel and compete for a range of prizes, including a handcrafted Brazenose Fuoco Violin, a performance opportunity in the Brazenose Chamber Concert Series 2027 and Pirastro accessories and strings.
📅 Applications close: 1 August 2026
Good luck to everyone preparing their application ✨

17/06/2026

One of our best sellers, this shoulder rest has been used and loved by my daughter and I since before it first came to market (if you want to know how, then come in and chat!). Absolute game changer for me as a player.

Have you found the perfect shoulder rest for you and your instrument?

More than 15 years ago, together with violinist and inventor Berent Korfker, we set out to create a shoulder rest like no other. Made from bendable maple tonewood, our PIRASTRO KorfkerRest® Model 2 offers a truly personalized fit, and with its featherweight of only 32 grams, it has become the gold standard for shoulder rests.

The featherlight design, along with the tone-optimized aluminium and minimal use of rubber, helps your instrument resonate freely and preserves its natural sound characteristics. Over time, the original KorfkerRest, now known as Model 2, has received subtle but noticeable upgrades, keeping it at the cutting edge by taking advantage of the latest developments in materials science.

When your shoulder rest is hardly noticeable and brings out the best sound from your instrument, you can truly lose yourself in the music!

03/06/2026

Do you remember this cello that came in a few weeks ago? It had fallen over in its case and the bow wasn’t secured so it went straight into the front. It’s been a team effort between myself, Rachel and Nigel to get this restored so quickly so the cellist can carry on playing. It was particularly challenging as the cello has no purfling, but we got it all back together and reinforced ok and this afternoon I’ve been doing the final retouch.

26/05/2026

🎻 Join award winning cellist Michael Petrov & pianist Susie Summers in our next concert of the season. Tickets are selling fast!

Saturday 11 July | St Martin’s Church, Stamford

We look forward to an enchanting evening from award-winning cellist Michael Petrov and pianist Susie Summers, performing works by Beethoven and Rachmaninov in the beautiful surroundings of St Martin’s Church.

Recognised internationally for their expressive and accomplished performances, the duo will bring together the emotional depth of Beethoven’s Sonata in G minor and the rich romanticism of Rachmaninov’s Sonata in G minor for an unforgettable evening of live chamber music.

📍 St Martin’s Church, Stamford
🎟 Tickets available via the link in bio
🍷Programme and refreshments available to purchase on the door
✨ Arrival at 6:30pm to meet the musicians and experience our handcrafted Brazenose Instruments.
🎹Concert begins at 7.30pm