Violinist.com

For the Record, Op. 354: Tim Fain; Musicians of the Old Post Road; Camille Berthollet

October 10, 2025, 3:49 PM · 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.

Unraveling
Tim Fain, violin

"'Unraveling' expresses my coming to terms with our broken, unstable world - a cry for understanding, but also a call to action, coming back to gratitude, and an attempt to get out of my own head," violinist Tim Fain writes. "I composed and recorded it for 17 layered and looped violins, and really wanted to explore the limits of pitch and intensity on the violin." An Avery Fisher Career Grant-winning violinist and composer, Tim Fain can also be heard on the soundtracks to films including Black Swan, The Tragedy of Macbeth, 12 Years a Slave, and Don’t Look Up. On this album, Fain performs his own composition, "Unraveling," alongside works by John Corigliano ("STOMP), Esa-Pekka Salonen ("Lachen Verlernt"), Missy Mazzoli ("Dissolve, O My Heartz"), Meredith Monk (Return to Earth, arr. Tim Fain - premiere recording), Philip Glass ("Two Poems"), and Bryce Dessner ("Ornament and Crime"). BELOW: Official music video for Tim Fain's "Unraveling."

Keep reading...

U.S. Immigration Drops Utah Violinist’s Deportation case

Laurie Niles

October 10, 2025, 1:36 PM · On Wednesday U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) dropped its deportation case against Utah violinist John Shin, who had been detained at an ICE detention camp in Aurora, Colo. for 17 days in late August and early September.

"That means John is not in deportation proceedings anymore," his South Salt Lake attorney Adam Crayk told the Denver Gazette. "We won entirely. He’s out."

Shin is a violinist with a master’s degree in music performance from the University of Utah and has performed with the Utah Symphony and Ballet West.

Shin was working on a telecommunications project at Fort Carson, Colo. when he was flagged by federal officials as he tried to enter the U.S. Army base near Colorado Springs, due to discrepancies in federal records related to his migratory status. Agents placed shackles on both Shin's wrists and ankles and drove him 70 miles to the ICE detention camp in Aurora, where he was housed in block with 70-80 people and slept with no pillow on yoga mats over a metal frame for the next two and a half weeks.

"I was absolutely terrified. I cried all day," Shin said at a press conference following his release. "When you are inside the detention center you have no information coming from outside. I was in constant panic. Every night I wasn't sure what was going to happen tomorrow or the following day."

Shin was required to post a $25,000 bond and to wear an ankle monitor in order to be released from the Colorado detention center and return to his family in Salt Lake City on Sept. 4.
Keep reading...

Comments (1)

Timothy Chooi Loaned 1714 'Dolphin' Strad Violin Played by Heifetz

Laurie Niles

October 8, 2025, 3:48 PM · Canadian violinist Timothy Chooi has been awarded the use of the 1714 "Dolphin" Stradivari violin, loaned to him earlier this month by the Tokyo-based Nippon Music Foundation.

"It is with great honor and gratitude that I receive the loan of the Stradivarius 1714 ‘Dolphin,’ one of the most celebrated violins in the world," Chooi said. "I have seen many historical videos of Jascha Heifetz performing on this very violin, and his artistry has always been a source of inspiration to me. It is truly an honor to follow in his footsteps and those of so many other incredible musicians. I look forward to the privilege of sharing the voice of this instrument with audiences worldwide and contributing to its living legacy."

The "Dolphin" Strad is from Antonio Stradivari’s Golden Period, between from 1700 to 1725, when the great Italian violin maker was said to have refined his pattern and made some of his finest work. Besides being played by the great 20th century violinist Jascha Heifetz, it was also previously played more recently by Akiko Suwanai and Ray Chen.
Keep reading...

Comments (9)

The Week in Reviews, Op. 520: William Shaub, Augustin Hadelich, Anne Akiko Meyers

Laurie Niles

October 7, 2025, 12:58 PM · 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.

William Shaub and pianist Kevin Class performed a recital for the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra's Concertmaster Series.

Arts Knoxville: "Shaub chose four pieces that ran the gamut of spice, intrigue, and delicious substance, all with entertaining violin virtuosity thrown in."

Keep reading...

Comments (2)

Health