Friends of Music Concerts presents a festival of strings with the Pacifica Quartet and Sharon Isbin, guitar

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2025

Contact: Solange De Santis, Marketing and Communications Director
(917) 379-2260
[email protected]

For Sharon Isbin, contact:
Genevieve Spielberg
[email protected] or 908 884 3283

SLEEPY HOLLOW, NY – Friends of Music Concerts, celebrating its 72nd season, is delighted to present the Pacifica Quartet with guitarist Sharon Isbin on Sunday, October 5 at 3 p.m. at Sleepy Hollow High School’s Kusel Auditorium, Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.

Each Grammy award winners in their own right, Isbin and the Pacifica (“A spectacular musical friendship” – WCRB Classical Radio Boston) recently recorded “Souvenirs of Spain and Italy.”

At this concert, they will continue their exploration of the Hispanic repertory by composers Granados, Tárrega, Mangoré, Turina and Piazzolla. In addition, the Pacifica will perform the popular “American” quartet by Dvořák and Isbin will join the quartet for works by Vivaldi and Boccherini.

Tickets are $40 for adults, free for those age 18 and under, available at www.friendsofmusicconcerts.org.

Hailed as “one of the best guitarists in the world” (Boston Globe), Isbin has appeared with more than 200 orchestras, premiered nearly 100 works written for her and has given sold-out performances in celebrated halls across 40 countries.

She is the founding director of the guitar department at the Juilliard School, was recognized as the 2020 Instrumentalist of the Year by Musical America and received the 2023 Guitar Foundation of America Hall of Fame Artistic Achievement Award.

Her catalogue of more than 40 albums has sold more than one million copies and streamed more than 30 million times.

Isbin’s album “Live in Aspen” with India’s legendary sarod master Amjad Ali Khan was released last summer to rave reviews. This spring saw the release of “Romántico,” which debuted as SiriusXM’s Album of the Week.

For more information visit www.sharonisbin.com. Hi-res images are available at www.sharonisbin.com/press.

The Pacifica Quartet is lauded for its adventurous repertoire and commitment to the quartet cycles of Shostakovich, Beethoven and Carter. Its members are Simin Ganatra and Austin Hartman, violins; Mark Holloway, viola; and Brandon Vamos, cello.

Formed in 1994, the group won prizes in competitions such as the 1996 Coleman Chamber Music Competition, the 1997 Concert Artists Guild Competition, and the 1998 Naumburg Chamber Music Competition.

The Pacifica received Chamber Music America’s prestigious Cleveland Quartet Award in 2002, the Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2006, and was named “Ensemble of the Year” by Musical America in 2009. The Pacifica Quartet tours throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. More information is at www.pacificaquartet.com.

Friends of Music history

Founded in 1954, Friends of Music’s first concert featured the young Juilliard String Quartet. Since then, FOMC has brought to Westchester nearly every chamber music group of world renown, soloists and developing artists. FOMC’s mission has always maintained a special focus on keeping musical experiences affordable and building audiences of the future.

Its Partnerships in Education Program sponsors one-day residencies of young professional musicians coaching students at Westchester County public schools during the concert season.

Friends of Music Concerts is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit and donations are tax-deductible. Donations received before Dec. 15, 2025 may qualify for ArtsWestchester’s Art$WChallenge match.

Friends of Music Concerts, Inc. | P.O. Box 675 | Millwood, NY 10546

Tel (914) 861-5080 | friendsofmusicconcerts.org