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One warm and sunny day in the spring, the swans of the River hames gleaming while crowds of golden dafodils bloomed around them, I arrived at the inal of the Windsor Festival International String Competition. Windsor Castle, around 25 miles upstream from London and sitting atop the hill it has occupied for almost a thousand years, is home to the British royal family and, once every two years, also to the competition that this year ofered a top prize of £5,000; a concerto performance with the Philharmonia Orchestra; a contemporary bow to the value of £5,000; a CD recording on British label Champs Hill Records; and recital opportunities, including one at William Walton’s former home on the Italian island of Ischia.