Alice McVeigh

Alice McVeigh was born in South Korea, of American diplomatic parents, and lived in Southeast Asia until she was thirteen, when the family returned to the suburbs of Washington DC. She then began to play the cello, winning, among others, the Beethoven Society of Washington cello competition, as well as being selected as a finalist in the National Music Teachers Association Young Soloists competition and the National Symphony of Washington Young Concert Artists award.

She achieved a BMus with distinction in performance at Indiana University School of Music in 1980, the same year in which she came to London to study privately with William Pleeth. Since then she has freelanced with orchestras including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic and John Eliot Gardiner's Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique all over the UK, the EU, America and the Far East.

Alice has written fiction all her life, but never attempted publication until the 1990s when her first two novels (While the Music Lasts and Ghost Music) were published by Orion, and her first play (Beating Time) in 2003 by New Theatre Productions. She is currently finishing a commissioned play, and a third novel.

Alice has been married to Simon McVeigh (currently deputy Vice-Chancellor at Goldsmiths College, London University) since 1981; and she started editing by working extensively on his first book, Concert Life in London from Mozart to Haydn, which was published by Cambridge University Press. Since then she has edited all of his articles and books, as well as being in constant demand by other musicologists and writers.

Articles by Alice McVeigh

The English Symphony Orchestra's New Year's Eve offering

Alice McVeigh was at Covent Garden for the last performance of Gounod's 'Faust'

Alice McVeigh listens to music by the late John Joubert. 'William Boughton conducts with great sensitivity, and the orchestra excels.'

Brahms arranged by Kenneth Woods. '... this is an excellent performance representing a useful, joyful and even inspired addition to the orchestral repertoire.'

Wagner's 'Das Rheingold' in dress rehearsal at Covent Garden

Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Cello Concerto. 'Brinton maintains a clear, sonorous and resonant sound even in the highest register, though he could perhaps have been willing to take a few more risks.'

Donizetti's 'L'ange de Nisida' at Covent Garden

George Benjamin's 'Lessons in Love and Violence' at Covent Garden

On teaching adult cello students

Philip Sawyers' Symphony No 3. 'Pummelled strings rise turbulent beneath great brass chords: the entire fisting orchestra soars, confident, triumphant and united at last.'

Red Priest's 'Baroque Bohemians'. '... extreme alternations of mood, from manic charges to bucolic brusqueness, with serious offbeat percussive work ... and general anarchy ...'

Advice misconstrued, bad timing and ill luck

Freddie Meyers' new opera 'A Sketch of Slow Time'

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh incites riotous behaviour on behalf of serious music

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh tries out her new electric cello

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh gives Bromley Symphony Orchestra's Mahler/Schumann concert a plug

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh visits Covent Garden for Francesco Cilea's 'Adriana Lecouvreur'

Alice McVeigh explains why 'Der Rosenkavalier' at Covent Garden couldn't have been bettered in any department

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh on the Women's March in protest of Donald Trump

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh says goodbye to her friend Janine

Rachel Brown's Revolutionary Flute Quartets. 'The double-CD is worth buying for this slice of Gluck alone.'

Little-known harpsichord gems. '... succeeds utterly, as does the immaculately sensitive [Penelope] Cave.'

John Joubert's 'Jane Eyre'

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh has a serious message about America

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh was at last week's Bromley Symphony Players concert

Jessica Duchen's new novel 'Ghost Variations'

Classical Music Agony Aunt Aliki McVeigh joins up for keep fit classes, Crete-style

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh comments on Jessica Duchen's feelings about exams

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh on recorder playing, Lassus, J S Bach and the mass cello repertoire

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh receives a fan letter

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh on the UK's 'Young Musician of the Year'

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh on Wagner's 'Tannhäuser' at Covent Garden

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh on auditions

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh has advice for a double bass player with RSI

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh on Lebrecht's 'flat' London

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh on whether classical music is just for the elite

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh on Bruckner's Ninth Symphony

Rachel Brown's 'A Tribute to Bach'. '... Rachel Brown has enough talent, in her littlest finger, to lift an entire orchestra ...'

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh justifies the advice she gave last week

On an obnoxious sharp first flute

Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields' musical 'Sweet Charity'

On comfort music when mourning

Chabrier's 'L'Etoile' at Covent Garden

On the late Christine Jackson

On Sibelius growing like a fungus

On the perils of shopping at Chemist Direct

On the fear of leaving Dallas

Purcell from The King's Consort. 'What can one say when confronted with perfection?'

Muzio Clementi and the British Music Scene

A reaction to David Waterman's article in The Guardian, from Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

Bromley Youth Music Trust's 'West Side Story'

Bright pockets of light in a fading landscape, discovered by Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

Advice on rushing when playing music, from Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

A present from an old friend, received by Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

Multiple remedies for a music- and sport-related ailment

Agreeing to a little experiment

On an embarrassing 'Siman tov' quartet moment

On musical US Presidents

In praise of the bassoon

On mini-symphonies by mini-munchkins

'William Tell' at Covent Garden

Is music good for your heart? with Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

Steven Isserlis on playing from memory, with comments from Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

'Death of a Salesman'

A case of musical compassion fatigue

More about orchestral musicians and retirement

On firing professional orchestral musicians

Talking to the online tutor robot

On Callum Smart's Glazunov Violin Concerto

On the sudden and unexpected return of the arch-enemy of classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On air travel with a cello

On luthiers, violins and space-age materials

On health issues when choosing an instrument

On the musicality of cats and dogs

An mvdaily.com exclusive newsflash

On choosing a musical instrument for children

Mahler programme notes with special annotations

Of cellists on the roof, annoying the dying and rhubarb wine

A letter to Martin, upon his joining Facebook

On silly rates for writing

On Deborah Pritchard's 'Wall of Water'

A vow to never again speak French

Restricted view recommended for Verdi's 'Un ballo in maschera' at Covent Garden

On shoulder braces and lead in the frog

On being American and British

Alice McVeigh writes about cello teacher Robert Hofmekler

On Martin Wulfhorst's 'Orchestral Violinist's Companion'

Sophocles' 'Electra' at London's Old Vic

Benjamin Britten's 'Albert Herring' at Hampstead Garden Opera

Viola de Hoog plays J S Bach. '... a cellist and an artist of utter integrity ...'

On Bromley Youth Music Trust's 'Phantom'

On the future of the Ulster Orchestra

Comparing forest adventures with music freelancing

On Schnabel and Rachmaninov

On musicians and rituals

On blocked email between the Taylor and McVeigh families

On trouble in Atlanta

On missing the BBC Proms

On the recorder and conspiracy

On taking up the alto recorder

Original quotes from Paul Silverthorne

Busy researching an article

Questions about choral conducting, answered by classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

A CD recommendation from classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh remembers her famous grandfather, General Maxwell D Taylor

On 'Dialogues des Carmelites' at Covent Garden

Saying goodbye to a friend, plus dodgy social media

On the BBC's Young Musician of the Year

Does musical training increase blood flow in the brain? Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh investigates

The gift

On wolf-tone eliminators and tennis balls

On mice, and getting stuck in the Tower of London

Thomas Bowes plays the Barber Violin Concerto

On music festival judges

'Die Frau Ohne Schatten' at Covent Garden

On Rodelinda at English National Opera

The Heron Piano Quartet

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh is busy writing her new novel

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh likes New York

On erhus and python soup

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh and the cat from Porlock

On the advantages of free bowing

On stress in the firsts

On parents in music lessons

On Wagner string parts and Fred Sherry's Bach duets

Recital programme ideas, and stress in the orchestra

Confessions of a classical music agony aunt

Aspects of Baroque, with Angela East, Pinchas Zukerman and classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On 'La Forza del Destino', music education and realpolitik

On Alma Deutscher and exploited talent

Act I Scene I (on the doorstep)

An acute sense of political foreboding, and thinking outside the box with regard to practice time

A visit to the theatre (ignoring the reviews), and praise for the latest Jason Seed Stringtet CD

Why it could be hogwash that all high achievers are musicians

On disruption, builders, orangeries and moving home

On corruption and music competitions

On giving up the cello and working alongside builders

On nephews and aunts, agony and non-agony, and the employability of pianists

On embarrassing looks from guys in orchestras, and the return of Manolos the Cretan mouse

On practising, sharing, caring and monkeys

On marketing rosin

On finding a job

On fruit cakes and mad persons

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh is excited, and it's not about music

Dealing with modern flower power

Modern bow or baroque bow? with classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Cello repertoire suggestions from classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Leaded bows and rackets

Reminiscences of János Starker

On cello elbow and the ultra-trendy

On dealing with the USA Embassy in London, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

From Crete to Locksbottom, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On buying glass double basses (and other items) on eBay, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Ten years to the day since the very first 'Ask Alice', our classical music agony aunt celebrates in the way she knows best

Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh is spotted in Yorkshire, playing solo cello

Advice about repair work on string bows, from Classical Music agony advertaunt Alice McVeigh

When Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh tried to cut down on coffee

On the hugely brave Frances Andrade, by her friend and Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Why the Ulster Orchestra is the most important orchestra in the UK, by Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On identifying works of music, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

An encounter with Birtwistle's Minotaur at Covent Garden, for Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

To memorise or not to memorise, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Swift advice to hit the bottle, from Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Hearing loss high among musicians, experienced by Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

This is the Truth sent from Above

Questions from cellists

Call centre blues

Guild Music's concert to celebrate the launch of two new CDs

On the excesses of travel for orchestral players

On careers in music and backup plans

On the nightmare in the decorating scenario

On ghostwriting dialogue for Hitler and Goering

On pianists and accompanying

Car troubles in Elgar country

Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh meets the mice in the piano

Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh is distracted

On coincidence, and what happened on Sunday, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On elderly cello students, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On the perils of air travel with a cello, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On string instruments in nutty-like-a-fruitcake climates, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Sparring with Manolos the Cretan mouse, by Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On affordable cellos and almost becoming queen, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Mozart's 'Il Re Pastore' at New College Oxford

On metronomes and performance nerves, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

John Joubert's string quartets. 'The Brodskys throw themselves into the lament for Shostakovich ...'

On conductors and cello cases, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On builders and funerals, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On the myth of the lazy British workman, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

It's a miniature long-haired dachshund's life, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On the thrill of the 'flick', with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On avoiding Christian Aid collectors, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On the poor coverage of Fischer-Dieskau's death, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

New rules for the BBC's Young Musician of the Year competition, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

The tale of Trinity Guildhall music examiner Alex Newson, who failed to correctly identify a French horn, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On flattering your fleeing cellists, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On rejection and freelance orchestras, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On instrument stands, ambition and being overloooked, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Overdosing on Schubert, and cello pupils moving on, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On Alan Gilbert and the beasts of the jungle, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Some obvious music science, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On bowed dulcimers in South Africa, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On the wisdom of mothers, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On cello grade exams, and shaking off the rust, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

What Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh thought of Cynthia Phelps, plus a dialogue with a puppy

Eddie Daniels and the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kristjan Järvi

On intonation distortion and stabbing pains, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On liquid spillage and string instrument varnish, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

A student feels unappreciated, but Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh is there to help!!!!!!

Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh wrestles with 1984 and the mind police

Of telephones and concerts, plus a recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons - Music and Sonnets, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Of mice and men, Chislehurst and Orpington, America and China, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

A visit to Covent Garden for 'Die Meistersinger', with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On hitting music students with string bows, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On trusting in the force of the cello, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On visiting the O2, and choosing between dentistry and music, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On unruly behaviour on orchestral weekends and in concerts, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Troubles and traumas at specialist music schools, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

A tale of six mottos, any number of mice, three cats, two vets, a conductor, a composer and a press release, from Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On modern cello recital repertoire, with Classical Music agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

On drowning out Katherine Jenkins, and a 77,000 person Mexican wave, with Classical Music agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

On cellists playing violin, and a story about Cortot and Enescu, from Classical Music agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

On solos and orchestra politics, with Classical Music agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

Tricky orchestra questions for the world's most vibrant Classical Music agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

On desperation in singers and orchestral players, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On the cut-throat world of piano teaching, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On Nicola Benedetti, losing the 'Max' in Max Bruch and the National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On stopping performances due to illicit recordings, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Richard Lewis, the great tenor. '... beg, borrow or steal.'

On downloading Brahms Sextets and coping with Greek rodents, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh is accused of ignoring the BBC Proms

On becoming a 'musicians are smarter' sceptic, and swimming to France across the English Channel, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On pain caused by too much practicing, with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On complaining about music exam results, with Classical Music Agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On temporary disability and bias in music competitions, with Classical Music Agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On intonation in cello sections, with Classical Music Agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Irate choral singers, grade exams and tendonitis, with Classical Music Agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Agony aunt Alice McVeigh goes for zero classical music content in her latest rantings on social networking, sport and mice, guaranteed to annoy the editor (her only remaining reader)

A possible threat to the punctuation supremacy of classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On the rising cost of music hire

On 'Swinging Samson' and musicians' brains

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh says farewell to her musician aunt

On Royal-Wedding-itis, cello rosin and a thumbs up for Obama

Stupid questions and idiotic social networking

Trendy in Bromley, and bluesy music with a twist

Technology and music, plus Elgar in Lowestoft

A brief encounter with field-mice

Correspondence between film maker Phil Grabsky and classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

In search of Beethoven and stress-free jobs

On grooming violin superstars and oriental domination

An overdose of Mozart and crazy fitness machines

On strengthening fingers and selling cellos

On pensions, money, burglars, bankers and teeth

The trouble with banks

On schools and academies

On various kinds of happy Christmasses

On sons and computers

On cello machines and thoughts of murder

On 'Hamlet' and lacking advancement

On Christmas and the Huddersfield Philharmonic

On Kindles, rehairs and resin

On listening or playing, musicians' creativity and Sue Frankel's Caractacus Pots

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh raves about Barclaycard and the Absolute Zero Viola Quartet, and comments on pillow fighting in Eastbourne

On the gooey bits of pigeons and Bach's B minor Mass

On rodents, requiems and bow restorers

On bands, exhaustion and headaches

A tale of rain, ashes and horses

On helping cellist Christine Jackson

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh is shocked and appalled ...

Strapped down and having her toes nibbled by mice, classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh meets the Wicked Witch of the West

A new plan for world peace

On, like, gift shop blues (or reds and browns?), like

On the three weaknesses of Charles Mackerras

Relationship advice for music teachers

How less practice can be more

Notching up the practice hours

Some harsh but sporting advice from classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

A clear case of power play

On second careers and sensitivity

On songwriters and gamba sonatas

Christian Aid, Alice-style

Problems with a violinist who's 'too good'

'The Marriage of Figaro' in Washington DC, reviewed by classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

The matinée performance on 24 April 2010 of Folger Theater's 'Hamlet', recommended by classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On the pros and cons of Facebook

On the guilty secrets of classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Wildlife on the highway, rescued by classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On oboe jobs, waxworks and knee surgery

On violins and bows

On the appointment of a masterchef for musicians

On talent and texts

On the benefits of singing

On personnel problems in orchestras

On thin ankles and recordings

A cello, a mechanic and a funeral

Elegy and Celebration

On the craziness of worldwide auditions

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh is touched strangely by tales of woe

On ageism in the music business

A special Christmas message from classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh deals with a trumpeter with an emotional problem

The most beautiful sound in the world

On delusions, fruitcakes and the Elgar Cello Concerto

On the perils of programming

Judges, sheep and a Rite to complain

On full-size cellos and musicians' reputations

On the benefits of music lessons

On parents and prose style

The truth about bishops and priests

Saying goodbye to Fiori

On end-pin stoppers, music exams and godparents

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh deals with the all-too-human feelings of annoyance, rejection and worry

On heartbreak, parents and practice

On statistics, surveys and rock groups

On location, social networking and the guitar

On gentle Harvey Shapiro and the pressure of New York

On orchestral horn solos and funding cuts

On viola pegs and swine flu

On rites of passage

On classical music in London's Royal Albert Hall

On points, service and waiting

On business and friends

When to put up and shut up

On loyalty to pupils

On children, competitions and TV

Problems down at the ol' wind quintet

On freelancers, swiping work and danger money

On employment in music, insanity, rottweilers and the European Union

On business, payment and the arts

A mega problem with a minor orchestra, solved by classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On depression in orchestras

On godparents and sibling rivalry

Issues of life and death

On the soaring interest in studying music, and when Wilfrid Mellers met Margaret Thatcher

On freezing fingers and dreamers of dreams

Of perspiration, stringed instruments and teaching

A tale of magic rings and dinosaur bones, related by classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

The story of Mr Manjure and the agony aunt

Alice McVeigh braves the snow to listen to Fretwork at London's Wigmore Hall

Adventures in life, youth and snow

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh lists her current woes

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh is not judging but drowning

Jamie Walton plays Shostakovich

Mystery Bolshoi intermission music

Hitting the mood with Gershwin

An agony aunt at The Acropolis

An agony aunt writhes ...

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh at the Sidcup Literary Society

On worrying about the planet, and principal cellists

On cello congestion and market opportunities

On, like, the demise, like, of Washington's Ring cycle, if you will, with 'our friend' of classical music, Alice McVeigh

Distractions while reviewing

Searching for violinists in Yorkshire and senior readers online

Cheating on degrees, pictures of meat and the principal cello

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh takes a swipe at American politics

On musicians and intelligence

Difficult decisions for young musicians

Corelli from the Purcell Quartet

On Russian music and throwing metronomes

Agony aunt Alice McVeigh ignores classical music again to discuss American politics, shotgun weddings, bizarrely-named children and moose

Advice for a flautist

Adventures in the land of the Franglais and advice on starting university

Brushes with the law and sporting fame

Fascinating correspondence between classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh and a representative of a major computer firm

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh reports on problems brewing for the International Baccalaureate

A week of heaven on earth

'Kicking the parent', 'Lucia di Lammermoor' and other fun games and pastimes

Instructions for feeding the cat

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh begs help and advice from her readers

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh answers the question 'Is the name of a musician's college important?'

Issues involving young musicians and male musicians

Problems and performances - medical and musical

Nerds and scientists in music

On Eurovision Song Contest rage

On Handel operas and autographs

A little Godmotherly ceremonial advice

On zillions for Colburn and Juilliard, and the death of a landsnail named Edmund

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh in Florida

On playing the violin

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh celebrates her twenty-first birthday (again)

On performance nerves and the online cello

On God, rock concerts and earplugs

On promoting music competitions

On green mountains and bowgrips

Selling old cellos and bows on eBay, and a different kind of fish

Someone old enough to spell properly has orange eyes? Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh investigates ...

On concert etiquette and goldfish, with Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On spoil-sports, weirdos and wind instruments, with Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Buzzing cellos and violin teachers scorned, with Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh deals with iTunes, Facebook and gender issues in conducting

On brains, hats, wives, books, music and animals

On Nutcrackeritis and MRI scans

On cello grades, examiners and braincells

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh proposes a New York Philharmonic Orchestra tour to Pyongyang, Tehran, Harare and Rangoon

Fair complaints and botox

Song cycles by John Joubert. '... a passionate wildness to the piano writing ...'

High marks for Steven Isserlis, but not for Birmingham

King Solomon, Beta-blockers and trumpet players

On the trail of a few artistic anythings in a dumbed down world is Alice McVeigh, agony aunt of culture

Temptation in electronic form for Alice McVeigh, musicians' agony aunt extraordinaire

Ping Pong and the Noise Abatement Society, with classically trained agony aunt Aunt Alice McVeigh

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh has something else on her mind this week ...

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh has something on her mind this week ...

Improving on Beethoven? More correspondence with Classical Music's Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh meets the Head Chief Moose ...

Confucius (in the guise of Geoff of Hampstead) predicted the perfect recipe for Alice McVeigh's Classical Music Agony Aunt column: dachshunds, daughters' birthdays, God, goldfish, husbands, landsnails, mothers, parrots, slices of apple and the scent of gerbils, but not the slightest hint of classical music ...

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh's adventures in China ...

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh on the trail of no ordinary newsflash ...

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh tries to change her email address

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh gives a worst-first view of her recent vacation

On Handel and helping Russia

Clearly unhinged? Read on, as Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh takes on Wikianswers, J S Bach and Johann Peter Kellner

Barking, biting and a hole in the head ... the case of Anna Magdalena and Buckie Bear versus Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh and her dachshund

An unscheduled visit to the other side, for Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

Saying no to Yo-Yo, by Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

John Attanas' recent book about Yo-Yo Ma, reviewed by Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

On orchestral politics

A crisis for a double bass beginner, and 'Death in Venice' at English National Opera

On talent, known and unknown, and at home and abroad

On rigged auditions and the threat of digital orchestras

How to get something out of nothing

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh mourns the passing of the great cellist Mstislav Rostropovich

On 'Swingin' Samson, pathetic excuses and American gun law

On children's gems, Joshua Bell and The Washington Post

On cello quartets, satanic dances and cricket

Tips on baroque bowing and orchestral touring from Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh deals with Disgusted of Greater London

This week, a raging head-colb forb Classicub Musib Abonub Aunt Alice McVeigh

Music either side of the big duck pond

Problems down at The Black Horse, reported by Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

Dealing with the editor, by Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

A theatrical warning about 'The Coram Boy' from Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

Is Beethoven in your toothbrush? Talk to our Classical Music Agony Aunt, Alice McVeigh

The trouble with siblings, by Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

On curses and blessings

On Guarneri cellos and firing pupils

On concert shoes and extending the nativity

On ornaments, New Year and the Malvern Hills

Dairyland and the baroque cross sign

On anti-social behaviour, pounding heads and the occasion of the year

On neurotics, the clarinet and credit card cloning

On conversations within the orchestra

On teenage violinists and ... girls

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh in convalescence

Judging judges, desperate cellists, and Al-Qaeda Christmas festivities

Bums on seats and heads in nooses

On humming cellos, Indiana University Music School and the charisma bypass operation

From heaven to hell, damnation to dalmatians, and on the dumbing down of classical music, with Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

'Get insured and move on' is the advice this week from Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

with the still slightly testy Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

without Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

On cello strings and flaky painters

On straining the vocal cords

On Steven Isserlis, Agnes Poirier and surrender monkeys

On cellos for the needy, Schwarzkopf and replicating genius

Carbon music, Cretans and landsnails

On pianists, conductors, truth and goldfish

On Sicilian drivers and culture vultures

'Never in the history of ... drivel', and 'soon-to-be ruler of ... Orpington', Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh quotes reviews, advises cellists and plays tennis

Tricky Dicky and the ushers

Joshua Pierce's recording of Brahms' second piano concerto

When the ushers meet the musicians

Tennis, appearances and more tennis, for Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh's classical music humour column is clear as a mountain stream, and guaranteed free from tamagotchis, tennis and tuba trios

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh is proud to be with the English Symphony Orchestra

STDs, tamagotchis and rejection letters

Conducting fellowships and big breaks for tenors

Correspondence between Tina and Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

On fainting pianists and escaping from a career as a violinist

Announcing a new book, that is and yet isn't by Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

On Anna Magdalena and Johann Sebastian

On the relative merits of Bach and Wagner

On goldfish and landsnails

On oboe-playing daughters-in-law and tuba careers

On playing the violin, the viola, the tuba and jobs

On the perils of tendonitis, and the return after a long absence of Mrs Gloria Stoatgobbler

A cry from the back desks of the violins, answered by Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

On Wallace, Gromit, Sir Edward and Aunt Alice, beta-blockers, hate mail, were-rabbits and Americans

Concert reviews, violins, cellos on 'eBay' and mathematical problems for schoolchildren

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh ponders on the purpose of concert reviews, and fields questions on tamagotchi and ice skating

Half-term problems for Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

Friends for fat people and plum roles for flautists

On the perils of Baroque dating, teaching adults and slimming

On earplugs, violinists and kids' names

Lighter in body and mind, Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh is still having problems ...

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh is in a very strange mood this week ...

New Year letters from fellow cellos, fielded by Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

As the year comes to a close, classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh looks for a new job

A little Christmas agony, with aunt Alice McVeigh

Why Joe Bloggs rules, with secret tennis player Alice McVeigh

On horrible examiners, identifying recordings and locating singers

On jealousy and other craziness

On orchestras, cellists and the late John Martin

Forget classical music this week, as cellist, food expert and agony aunt Alice McVeigh deals with fancy goldfish, cannibalism and poisoning

On Beethoven bowings, hero worship and the pressures of academic study

On cello strings and pumpkin pie filling

'Some Kind of Genius: The extraordinary journey of Musical Savant Tony DeBlois'

The removal of Hwan Lee Scheitzer Jones Joubert, plus a review of the book 'Some Kind of Genius'

On looking after goldfish and growing up

Temirkanov conducts Mahler

Hooked on Molière, plus a mini-review of 'Windsong' by Kelly Ferjutz

Paganini on the mandolin, piano pupils and Bush's latest deal

On encores, mandolin arrangements and agony aunting

On the Ashes, yellow submarines and Jerusalem

A little bit of teenage hero worship, from Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

When choosing between happy hearts and your violin ... by Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

On free plugs, guides on making music, good shows ... with Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

Sorting out the musical inbox on return from holiday

Advice to a soprano on not kicking the goldfish, from Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

On 'Così', Nigel Kennedy and recovering the Ashes

Music for trumpets, and music for baroque lute

More on music books, including Misha Stefanuk's 'Jazz Piano for the Young Beginner'

On the frustrated and the talented, plus a review of Blair Tindall's book 'Mozart in the Jungle'

On pupils failing exams, opera singers and gut strings

On singing in Cardiff, Isserlis playing Saint-Saëns and square Samson

On mini-disc players, Mozart in the jungle and ads for tenors

Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh, in search of a tenor

Encounters with Big Hand Span and The Cunning Man, for Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

On stars and superstars

On lovestruck violists and beasts in Sydenham

More on 'Muso mates versus non-muso mates'

A review of Margaret Bartley's biography of Russian-American cellist Gregor Piatigorsky, by Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

A celebration of the madness of UK election hype, from Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

On car CD players, difficult students and telling conductors to 'break a leg'

On learning brass scales, and Starker's Brahms revisited

On Wieniawski at the Pope's funeral, anonymous letters and breaking a leg

Playing 'Fiddler on the Roof' at wedding receptions

Alice McVeigh reviews 'The World of Music According to Starker'

On the banning and sacking of conductors

On practicing and counting

On kissing, washing and Tartini rosin

Renée Fleming's book 'The Inner Voice - The Making of a Singer'

Inner voices, composers and cellists, and Mud and Noodles re-united

Swingin' Samson, problems in the violins and a review of 'La Clemenza di Tito' at English National Opera

On musicals, publishers and Starker

On concerts, witches and sightings

When Agony Aunt meets White Witch, plus a review of the Jacqueline du Pré memorial event in London

On Wallfisch, disfunctionality, choral singers, princes and swastikas

On bad advice

Advice on tuition from classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Bursting with good will at Christmas is classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Balls for baubles, plus a Romeo and Juliet prelude. Into the sin bin with brass players and conductors, thrown by classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

On cellos and flutes

Gender, musical instruments, open rehearsals, dancing and passionate sympathy from classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Leon Fleisher, beauty and Christmas news

Reviews, scams and justice

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh and the Rolex school of spam

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh and the yay-boo school of journalism

The Rastrelli cello quartet

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh and a reader are both frazzled at half-term ...

On bargains and politics

Instructions for dealing with a very tricky problem, prepared by classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Disorder in the ranks, dealt with the Alice McVeigh way

Why a good violinist needs a good bow, but a good children's party shouldn't have a bouncy castle

On cellists, composers and veils

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh contemplates 'le commencement de la end' supreme

Boarding at specialist music schools

More questions for Alice McVeigh, classical music's agony aunt

Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh returns to tell the story of her rescue by Hel and Slime

Jaundiced, but nearly in Crete .... is classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Keep taking the tablets ... the latest advice from classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

More forays into politics and literature

Helpful hints about sharing instruments, plus some musical commentary on Wimbledon

Sad news about classical music for Alice McVeigh

On cellists, politicians, children's musicals and sewer rats

In the wake of recent European elections, our ever-timely and impartial agony aunt of classical music encourages us to vote McVeigh

Problems this week with headmasters, oboists and emails

On Botox, youth and adventures in good music

On viola jokes and the eating of dogs

On the plight of Cassie in Brisbane

Muso mates versus non-muso mates

Schoolwork and headlice - all in a day's work for classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

'Slice it how you like', claims Alice McVeigh, Bromley's premier researcher into cello sounds and classical music's world's first agony aunt, 'how kinky is that?

Alice McVeigh, the agony aunt of classical music, basks in the glory of her successful Dvorák performance ...

Alice McVeigh, the agony aunt of classical music, is artistically ham-strung and irritated, this week ...

A tale of cricket and children's books

A tale of one passport application, by classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

Classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh, gives up explanation (or should that be exclamation?) points for Lent

Community service for conductors? Romantic music for bassoonists? All this and more with classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

On the continued excellence of the cello and the continued bad behaviour of conductors

The balance of the sexes or ... conductors with their trousers down

On string quartets, advertising, cellists and fame

A heartfelt 'cri-de-coeur' from classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

Busking amongst the sheep and speed cameras, classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh, live this week from Wales

On diction and eye jobs, live this week from Brighton pier

On first love and Art

On anonymous Christmas cards

Recent changes in UK legislation impinge on the world of classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

More questions and answers, during which our Agony Aunt's cover is finally blown ...

Choristers and Christmas gifts

Conductors' handshakes and solo bows

Problems of the back and the leg, dealt swift blows by classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

Classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh, deals with problems of food and light ...

On machines and men

Classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh, apologises to her Welsh readers

A brush with the law for classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

On changing teachers

Freedom, A Serf's Charter, by classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

More questions and answers with classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

Classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh, on poetry

The agony aunt and the butterfly

DGriffs is not amused by classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

Classical music's agony aunt Alice McVeigh visits Legoland (?!)

On spiders and singing ... from classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

More answers from classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

Classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh, is back (!!!!!!!)

Men problems this week for classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

Another eye-opening selection from classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

Practical advice from classical music's agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

Trouble with emails this week for classical music agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

Our classical music 'agony aunt', Alice McVeigh, tackles more questions

more questions to Alice McVeigh, the 'agony aunt' of classical music

more of your questions answered by our classical music agony aunt, Alice McVeigh

in the first of a new series, Alice McVeigh, cellist, author and 'agony aunt' of classical music, answers your questions

Articles about Alice McVeigh

Classical music news. September 2022 Newsletter - Our September 2022 PDF newsletter has just been published

Classical music news. Hang in there together - Classical Music Daily's March 2021 Newsletter has just been published as a video podcast

Amazingly Kind - Keith Bramich marks the passing of South African-born composer John Joubert, who died on 7 January

Alarms included - Alice McVeigh's 'Ghost Music', reviewed by Kelly Ferjutz

While the music lasts - Kelly Ferjutz enjoys Alice McVeigh's musical novel

Nuggets of advice - Alice McVeigh's 'All Risks Musical', read by Keith Bramich