A US violinist gives his Strad to Belgium
NewsThen enterprising soloist Charles Castleman has entrusted his 1707 ‘Marquis de Champeaux’ Stradivarius violin to the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Brussels.
Castleman came fifth in the Queen Elisabeth competition in 1963 and has maintained a bond with the Belgians ever since. His Strad will be played first by Castleman’s ex-student Miclen E. LaiPang until 2027.
Castleman, 83, gave a masterclass at the chapel this week.
Charlie is a prince—and a fantastic musician. What a generous act. Bravo.
My parents adored Charlie. His Quartet Program was a very important chamber music experience; it was to chamber what Meadowmount was to solo study.
He must have taught at the Eastman for decades, and recently left for Florida. He seems to be giving everything away to institutions except the Eastman. (My niece was there years ago and left because, as she said, it was really a school for musicologists and theorists to sell textbooks with required ‘electives’ for private instrument study, despite the 50% tuition add-on for instrument majors.)
Charlie, thank you for all your contributions to music. You are loved in both sides of the Atlantic and the Pacific.
Thanks! Minor correction. For 3 years it will be flown back to me when I want to use it for important concerts or recordings