"You really feel the excitement of the audience. Each performance is great fun, and I always find myself laughing along with the crowd". Bass player @danhumphreys1986 tells our magazine, Jesta, all about what it's like to play for @thelondonpalladium Christmas panto 2024.

🎄Season's Greetings from the ESTA UK team, and wishing you all a relaxing break.

Just three more days to take advantage of the early bird discount for VIMA 2025!

"The cello is so versatile which makes it such a natural instrument pairing for this style of music". Did you see our Q&A with Su-a Lee in last month's Jesta magazine? Catch Su-a live tomorrow night in Glasgow's Celtic Connections festival! celticconnections.com/event/1/dialog…

How's your tax return going? Register here for our talk on Tax Tips for Musicians next Monday, 3rd Feb. us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regist…

Join us one week today for a specialist talk on Developing Aural Skills in Instrumental Lessons, with Miranda Francis! Register at: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regist…

"I would certainly recommend any of Thomas Gregory's workshops to all ESTA members".⁠ ⁠ Glowing praise from the 2024 Vamoosh Teacher Training Day. There's still time to sign up for this year's event, which takes place next month.

📢🎻 We're delighted to welcome our newest committee member, James Tudball!⁠ James is an Australian violinist with a passion for performance and education. James also enjoys long-distance running and will take on the 2025 London Marathon in support of Children with Cancer UK.

esta_uk The spring issue of Jesta, our magazine for young string pupils and players, is out now! Have you got your copy?

Don’t miss the @Benslowmusic Open Day on Sunday 27 April! 🎻 Enjoy live music, talks from experts, demonstrations of violin making from @the_BVMA, have the chance to talk about your instrument, or wander through the beautiful gardens. It's FREE and everyone is welcome.

Step this way! One week to go before our teaching tango event with specialist Caroline Pearsall! This online session is free and open to all, and ESTA UK members will have exclusive access to the video recording to re-watch or catch-up. Register now: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regist…

Meet Nicholas Trygstad, the keynote speaker at our upcoming Heads of Strings conference, and Head of Strings @royalbirmcons. There are still a few spaces left for the conference. Book now to hear Nicholas, and take advantage of the other events! estastrings.org.uk/product/esta-h…

📢Introducing violinist Philippa Barton to the ESTA UK Council! "I would love to be involved in helping to shape, encourage, and inspire string teaching in this country, supporting and connecting teachers, especially where people may feel lonely, disconnected, or disempowered."

Great news that Thomas Gregory has joined the ESTA UK Council. "As the creator of the Vamoosh series, my experience in composing and publishing for education has given me insight into that world which the council might also find helpful." Glad to have you on board, Thomas!

So pleased Maureen Smith has been appointed to the ESTA UK Council. "Like my mother, Eta Cohen, I am very committed to improving teaching standards of young children. In addition, I ran the Art of Teaching classes both at the Academy and the College. Teaching is in my blood!"

Happy #WorldStringChangeDay with this message from our corporate partner @daddarioorchestral! "It’s always a good idea to refresh your strings ahead of the summer! We encourage you to give D’Addario Orchestral strings a try. Share a pic or a video, tag us @daddarioorchestral."

🎉Delighted that Joanne Green, professional violinist, teacher, strings coach, concert promoter, among many other things, has now added the role of ESTA UK Council Chair! @EstaInternationa1 WellsCathedralSchool @BreatheMusic_ Scottish Ensemble NCO-GB

As the summer term draws to an end, here is a useful reminder of some wise words from cellist and ABRSM examiner Laura Sergeant for any pupils about to sit an instrumental exam.

Have you had a go at the music-themed puzzle pages in our Jesta issues?

Former ESTA UK president @nickybenedettiofficial discusses the irreplaceable value in learning an instrument today, in her interview with Claire Allfree published in the Saturday @telegraph last weekend. 📸@riischroer