Sharon Isbin

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Isbin
Sharon Isbin 2011.jpg
Sharon Isbin in 2011
Background information
Born Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. [1]
Genres Classical, folk
OccupationMusician
InstrumentClassical guitar
Years active1970–present
Labels Sony Classics, Warner Classics, Cedille Records, Bridge Records, Zoho Music, Concord Records, Video Artists International
Website www.sharonisbin.com

Sharon Isbin [1] is an American classical guitarist and the founder and director of the guitar department at the Juilliard School. [2] [3]

Contents

Personal life and education

Sharon Isbin was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, [1] to Katherine Brudnoy, an attorney, [4] and Herbert S. Isbin, [5] a nuclear scientist and professor at the University of Minnesota. [6] She began her guitar studies at the age of nine with Aldo Minella in Varese, Italy. [7] She later studied with Jeffrey Van, Sophocles Papas, Andrés Segovia, Oscar Ghiglia, Alirio Díaz, and for 10 years with keyboard artist and Bach scholar Rosalyn Tureck.

She received a B.A. cum laude from Yale University and a Master of Music (M.M.) from the Yale School of Music.

She began practicing the Transcendental Meditation at age 17. [8]

Career

Performing and recording

In 2005, Isbin performed the world premiere of Steve Vai's Blossom Suite, accompanied by the composer. Her initial crossover collaborations included Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida and jazz guitarist Larry Coryell. In 2014, she performed a 20-city Guitar Passions tour with jazz musicians Stanley Jordan and Romero Lubambo.

In 2015, she performed with Josh Groban on PBS's Billy Joel: Gershwin Prize concert, [9] and was featured on the Tavis Smiley PBS television series in February 2015. [10]

On November 5, 2015, the David Lynch Foundation organized a benefit concert at New York City's Carnegie Hall named "Change Begins Within," to promote transcendental meditation for stress control. Sharon Isbin participated alongside Katy Perry, Sting, Jerry Seinfeld, Angelique Kidjo, and Jim James. [11]

Teaching and other work

In 1989, Isbin established the Master of Music degree, Graduate Diploma, and Artist Diploma programs for classical guitar at the Juilliard School; she became the founding director of the guitar department. [12]

Isbin is the author of the Classical Guitar Answer Book and serves as the director of the Guitar Department at the Aspen Music Festival. [13]

Awards and nominations

Awards and Recognitions

Isbin was the first guitarist named Musical America's Instrumentalist of the Year. [16] She was also the first guitarist to win the Munich ARD International Competition.

Her album Journey to the Amazon received a 1999 Grammy nomination for "Best Classical Crossover Album". She played on Aaron Jay Kernis' Double Concerto with violinist Cho-Liang Lin and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. This album received a Grammy nomination in 2000 for "Best Contemporary Classical Composition" for Kernis' Air for Violin.

Isbin won a Grammy in 2001 for her work in Dreams of a World: Folk-Inspired Music for Guitar (Warner Classics), becoming the first classical guitarist to win a Grammy in 28 years. On September 11, 2002, Isbin performed for the memorial tribute at Ground Zero, which was televised live. Her recording of world premiere concertos written for her by Christopher Rouse and Tan Dun won a Grammy in 2002. She received a 2005 Latin Grammy nomination for "Best Classical Album" and a 2006 GLAAD Media Award nomination for "Outstanding Music Artist" for her recording of Joaquín Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez with the New York Philharmonic. The recording also featured concertos by Mexican composer Manuel Ponce and Brazilian Heitor Villa-Lobos. Isbin was the first guitar soloist to perform with the New York Philharmonic in 26 years; this was the orchestra's first-ever recording with the guitar.

In November 2009, Isbin performed at the White House by invitation of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.. [17]

In 2010, Isbin won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist for her CD, Journey to the New World (Sony). The album spent 63 consecutive weeks on Billboard charts and ranked as the number one bestselling classical CD on Amazon and iTunes during that time.

Awards

Grammy [18]

Other awards

Discography

Compact Discs (CDs)
DateTitleLabelCatalog NumberFormatTotal Playing TimeNotes
1978Sharon Isbin Classical GuitarSound EnvironmentTR-10101 LPMusic by Brouwer, Ponce, Sor, Lauro, Albeniz
1980Sharon Isbin Classical Guitar Vol. IISound EnvironmentTR-10131 LPMusic by Bach, Britten, Brouwer
1981Sharon Isbin Spanish Works for Guitar Denon OF-7012-ND1 LPWith Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony; music by Tarrega, Sainz de la Maza, Rodrigo "Concierto de Aranjuez"
1981Sharon Isbin Guitar RecitalDenonOX-7224-ND1 LPMusic by Dodgson, MacCombie, Scarlatti, Bach
1984Dances for GuitarPro ArteCDD 3431 CD/LPMusic by Barrios Mangore, Rodrigo, Lauro, Vianna, Savio, Turina, Granados, Castelnuovo-Tedesco
19853 Guitars 3Pro ArteCDD 2351 CD/LPWith Larry Coryell and Laurindo Almeida; music by Nazareth, Gnattali, de Falla, Almeida, Rodrigo, Coryell
1987Brazil, With Love Concord CCD-43201 CD/LPWith Carlos Barbosa-Lima; music by Jobim, Nazareth, Vianna
1988Rhapsody in Blue/West Side StoryConcordCCD-420121 CD/LPWith Carlos Barbosa-Lima; music by Gershwin and Bernstein
1989J.S. Bach Complete Lute Suites EMI/Virgin Classics VC 7 90712-21 CD (DDD)78:45Sharon Isbin performs landmark editions for guitar created in collaboration with Rosalyn Tureck
1990Road to the SunEMI/Virgin ClassicsVC 7-59591-21 CDMusic by Sainz de la Maza, Rodrigo, Barrios Mangore, Abreu, Jobim, Tarrega, Brouwer, Villa-Lobos, Albeniz
1991Love Songs & LullabiesEMI/Virgin ClassicsVC 7-91750-21 CDWith soprano Benita Valente, baritone Thomas Allen, organic percussionist Thiago de Mello
1991Rodrigo: Concierto de AranjuezEMI/Virgin Classics07777-59024-21 CDSharon Isbin with Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne conducted by Lawrence Foster in Rodrigo Fantasia para un gentilhombre, Concierto de Aranjuez and Vivaldi Concerto in D Major
1994Nightshade RoundsEMI/Virgin ClassicsVC 5 45024 21 CD (DDD)Five bagatelles/ William Walton (13:54) – Nightshade rounds / Bruce MacCombie (10:06) – Preludes for piano/ George Gershwin;arr. Carlos Barbosa-Lima (5:48) – Clocks/ Joan Tower (9:07) – Folk song from English suite : op. 31/ John W. Duarte (4:20) – Nocturnal : op. 70/ Benjamin Britten (17:53).
1995American LandscapesEMI/Angel72435-67672-21 CD (DDD)With Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra conducted by Hugh Wolff. World premiere recording of concertos written for Sharon Isbin by John Corigliano, Joseph Schwantner and Lukas Foss.
1995Black Topaz New World Records 9322-80470-21 CDWith flutist Carol Wincenc performing world premiere recording of Snow Dreams by Joan Tower written for Isbin and Wincenc.
1995The Slatkin Years: St. Louis Symphony OrchestraLSCLSC 512041 CDSharon Isbin and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leonard Slatkin -- World Premiere live in concert January 1988 of Joseph Schwantner From Afar...A Fantasy for Guitar & Orchestra commissioned by SLSO for Sharon Isbin
1997Journey to the Amazon Warner Classics 0630-19899-21 CDWith Paul Winter, and Gaudencio Thiago de Mello. Music by Almeida, Lauro, Barrios Mangore, Thiago de Mello, Montana, Savio, Brouwer, Canonico, Vianna. 1999 GRAMMY Nomination
1998Wayfaring StrangerWarner Classics3984-23419-21 CDWith mezzo-soprano Susanne Mentzer, music by Schubert, Seiber, Niles, Sainz de la Maza, Rodrigo, Granados, Martini, Tarrega,
1999Ami Maayani: Viola & Guitar ConcertiFONSFONS 36-20071 CDSharon Isbin with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kazuhiro Koizumi -- Live in Concert in Jerusalem November 1979
1999Kernis Double Concerto for Violin & Guitar Decca/Argo 289-460226-21 CDWith violinist Cho-Liang Lin and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra conducted by Hugh Wolff. World premiere recording of concerto written for Sharon Isbin by Aaron Jay Kernis.
1999Dreams of a WorldWarner Classics3984-25736-21 CD (DDD)Folk-inspired Music for Guitar. 8 World Premieres; Music from Appalachia, Ireland, Greece, Israel, Spain, Cuba, Venezuela and Brazil. 2001 GRAMMY AWARD
2001Rouse: Concert de Gaudí/Tan Dun: Guitar Concerto Yi2Warner Classics8573-81830-21 CD (DDD)With the Gulbenkian Orchestra conducted by Muhai Tang. World premiere recording of concertos written for Sharon Isbin. 2002 GRAMMY AWARD, ECHO KLASSIK AWARD
2002Sharon Isbin's Greatest HitsWarner Classics2435-62075-52 CDsRodrigo, Vivaldi, Bach, Albeniz, Barrios, Villa-Lobos, Foss
2003Sharon Isbin Plays Baroque Favorites for GuitarWarner Classics0927-45312-21 CDWith the Zurich Chamber Orchestra and Howard Griffiths (conductor), music by Bach, Vivaldi, Albinoni
2004Sharon Isbin – Artist PortraitWarner Classics2564-61591-21 CDMusic by Vivaldi, Bach, Rodrigo, Sainz de la Maza, Lauro, Almeida, Thiago de Mello, Niles, Tan Dun, Albinoni, Takemitsu, Tarrega, Martini, Schubert, Rouse
2005Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Villa-Lobos: Concerto for guitar; Ponce: Concierto del surWarner Classics2564-60296-21 CDWith the New York Philharmonic conducted by José Serebrier. 2005 LATIN GRAMMY Nomination
2006 The Departed New Line 390781 CD Howard Shore's soundtrack to Martin Scorsese's Academy Award-winning film. 2008 GRAMMY Nomination
2009Journey to the New World Sony Classical 88697-45456-21 CDGuest artists: folk singer Joan Baez and violinist Mark O'Connor. 2010 GRAMMY AWARD
2011Sharon Isbin & Friends: Guitar PassionsSony Classical88697-84219-21 CDGuest artists: Steve Vai, Stanley Jordan, Nancy Wilson, Steve Morse, Romero Lubambo, Rosa Passos, Thiago de Mello, Paul Winter
2011Sharon Isbin - Great Masterworks of the GuitarWarner Classics50999-083412-24 CDsRodrigo Concerti, Schwantner Concerto, Nightshade Rounds, Romances for Guitar, JS Bach Complete Lute Suites
2014Sharon Isbin: 5 Classic AlbumsWarner Classics2564-62436-45 CDsJourney to the Amazon, Dreams of a World, Baroque Favorites, Rouse-Tan Dun Concertos, Rodrigo/Villa-Lobos/Ponce Concertos with New York Philharmonic
2015Sharon Isbin: Troubadour Video Artists International DVD 4580Blu-ray 8202Award-winning documentary presented by American Public Television. Guests include Joan Baez, First Lady Michelle Obama, Martina Navratilova, Garrison Keillor, Steve Vai, Stanley Jordan, Mark O'Connor, John Corigliano, Christopher Rouse, Tan Dun, Joan Tower, Romero Lubambo, David Hyde Pierce, Janis Ian & more. WINNER 2015 ASCAP TELEVISION BROADCAST AWARD
2017Alma Española: Isabel Leonard & Sharon IsbinBridge Records94911 CDComposers: Federico García Lorca, Joaquín Rodrigo, Agustín Lara, Manuel de Falla, Xavier Montsalvatge, Francisco Tárrega, Enrique Granados
2019Souvenirs of Spain & Italy: Sharon Isbin & Pacifica Quartet Cedille Records CDR 90000 1901 CDComposers: Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Vivaldi, Turina, Boccherini
2020AFFINITY: World Premiere Recordings Zoho Music ZM 2020051 CDGuest artists: Maryland Symphony Orchestra & conductor Elizabeth Schulze; Isabel Leonard, voice; Colin Davin, guitar
2020STRINGS FOR PEACE: Premieres for Guitar & SarodZoho MusicZM 2020041 CDSharon Isbin with Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan Ali Bangash, Ayaan Ali Bangash, sarods; Amit Kavthekar, tabla
2024LIVE IN ASPEN: Recorded Live in Concert at the Aspen Music Festival Zoho MusicZM 2024051 CDSharon Isbin with Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan Ali Bangash, Ayaan Ali Bangash, sarods; Amit Kavthekar, tabla
2025ROMÁNTICOKL2KLM0261 CDSharon Isbin with Orchestra of St. Luke's & conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez

World Premiere recordings of Latin dance-inspired music for guitar by Karen LeFrak including her Miami Concerto for Guitar & Orchestra

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Sharon Isbin Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mor..." AllMusic . Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Sharon Isbin Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  3. ↑ Maurice J. Summerfield: The Classical Guitar. Its Evolution, Players and Personalities Since 1800 (Blaydon-on-Tyne: Ashley Mark Publishing Co., 5th edition, 2002), p. 153–155.
  4. ↑ "Katherine (Brudnoy) Isbin Obituary". Legacy.com .
  5. ↑ "Herbert S. Isbin obituary". Hodroffepsteinmemorialchapels.com.
  6. ↑ Herbert S. Isbin (1963). Introductory Nuclear Reactor Theory (1963).
  7. ↑ "Musos Magazine, Nov. 2011" (PDF). Sharonisbin.com.
  8. ↑ Peterson, Diane (January 21, 2011). "Ambassador of guitar to star with SR Symphony: Sharon Isbin broke new ground, founding program at Juilliard". The Press Democrat. Santa Rosa, Calif. p. D.1.
  9. ↑ "Josh Groban & Sharon Isbin Perform " She's Always A Woman"". PBS SoCal. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Sharon Isbin". www.sharonisbin.com. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  11. ↑ Grow, Kory. "Katy Perry, Sting Stun at David Lynch's Meditation Benefit Concert – Jerry Seinfeld, Angelique Kidjo, Jim James and others also perform and explain relaxation technique's importance to them at New York's Carnegie Hall". Rolling Stone Magazine. Archived from the original on November 20, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Juilliard Guitar Department". Juilliard.edu.
  13. ↑ Aspen Music Festival and School. "Artist Faculty, Sharon Isbin".
  14. ↑ "Sharon Isbin to receive Lifetime Achievement Award from JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition". Niagara Frontier Publications. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  15. ↑ GFA Hall of Fame (PDF), retrieved September 10, 2024
  16. ↑ "Sharon Isbin - Biography". Sharonisbin.com. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  17. ↑ "White House Music Series: Classical". The White House. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  18. ↑ "All GRAMMY Awards and Nominations for Sharon Isbin". Grammy Awards. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
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