I hope the new year has treated you well in its first month. There has been a lot of exciting news in the violin world, including a new record holder for the world's most expensive violin, finding an excellent home in the hands of the incomparable violinist Anne Akiko Meyers. Read more about it here.

We were very saddened to hear the news of the passing of well known violin maker Carl Fredrick Becker from Chicago. Read a touching rememberance from Laurie Niles here.