The Strad Calendar 2025: Canada Council for the Arts
Launched in 1985, the Canada Council’s Musical Instrument Bank celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2025. This year’s calendar showcases twelve of the finest instruments it regularly loans to Canadian players, including four by Antonio Stradivari and beautiful works by Montagnana, Tecchler, Pressenda, Vuillaume and two of the Gagliano family.
The Strad Calendar 2024: The Fulton Collection
American collector David L. Fulton amassed one of the 20th century’s finest collections of stringed instruments. This year’s calendar pays tribute to some of these priceless treasures, including Yehudi Menuhin’s celebrated ‘Lord Wilton’ Guarneri, the Carlo Bergonzi once played by Fritz Kreisler, and four instruments by Antonio Stradivari.
The Strad Calendar 2023: The Australian Collection
In the past few years, Australia has become a classical music heartland with a number of its orchestras and ensembles achieving world renown. Many of its string players now perform on world-class instruments made by some of the most respected luthiers ever to have lived.
· 1585 Gasparo da Salò double bass
· c.1600 G.P. Maggini viola
· 1709 'Scotta' Antonio Stradivari violin
· 1714 Guarneri ‘filius Andreae’ violin
· 1720 Guarneri ‘filius Andreae’ violin
· 1728/29 Antonio Stradivari violin
· 1729 Guarneri ‘filius Andreae’ cello
· 1743 'Carrodus' Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin
· 1743 G.B. Guadagnini cello
· 1760 Nicolò Gagliano violin
· 1784 G.B. Guadagnini violin
· 1859 'Karrman' Vuillaume violin
The Strad Calendar 2022: Dutch Musical Instruments Foundation
For this year’s calendar, The Strad has partnered with the Dutch Musical Instruments Foundation. Established in 1988, it has accumulated one of the largest collections of instruments in Europe, with a total value estimated at over €36 million. More than 400 are stringed instruments, along with 250 bows.
The Strad Calendar 2021: Dextra Musica
The Strad Calendar 2020: The Chimei Collection
The Chimei Museum in Taiwan contains possibly the largest collection of bowed stringed instruments in the world. Instrument and bow makers from across the globe have travelled to the Museum to examine its treasures: more than 1000 violin makers are represented, along with over 300 bow makers.
NOW AVAILABLE
The Strad Calendar 2019: Antonio Stradivari Instruments
'For the 2020 Strad Calendar please click here'
The Strad Calendar 2018: The Friends of Stradivari
The Strad Calendar 2017
The Strad's 2017 calendar pays tribute to the conservatoires, music schools and academies that provide the backbone and ensure the future of the great classical music tradition. Twelve instruments, including examples by Antonio Stradivari, the Brothers Amati and Pietro Guarneri of Mantua are featured, along with some surprises – such as a 19th-century church bass by American luthier Abraham Prescott. This calendar will be essential for students, teachers and anyone with an interest in beautiful stringed instruments.
Full list of featured instruments
- 1629 Brothers Amati violin
- 1679 Nicolò Amati violin
- 1685 Antonio Stradivari violino piccolo
- 1700 Antonio Stradivari ‘Stauffer’ cello
- 1709 Antonio Stradivari ‘Hochschule Berlin, Marteau’ violin
- 1709 Antonio Stradivari ‘Viotti, ex-Bruce’ violin
- 1714 Antonio Stradivari ‘Joachim–Ma’ violin
- 1714 Pietro Guarneri of Mantua violin
- 1716 Antonio Stradivari ‘Provigny’ violin
- 1726 Antonio Stradivari ‘Marquis de Corboron’ cello
- 1736 Antonio Stradivari ‘Belle Skinner’ violin
- c.1809–20 Abraham Prescott church bass
