Isidore String Quartet
June 10, 2021
Friday, September 25, 2026, 7:30 PM
Street and Davis Performance Hall, Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre
This performance will last approximately 95 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.*
"A polished sonority and well-balanced, tightly synchronized ensemble... it is heartening to know that chamber music is in good hands with such gifted young ensembles as the Isidore Quartet."
— Chicago Classical Review
Winners of a 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant and the 2022 Banff International String Quartet Competition, the New York City-based Isidore String Quartet approaches the repertory with a spirit of rediscovery — “the established as if it were brand new” — bringing clarity, balance, and expressive depth to music across eras.
The program moves from the lyrical charm of Frank Bridge to the stormy intensity of Mendelssohn, the sharp contrasts of Britten, and the sweeping emotional power of Beethoven’s op. 59 quartet. Across centuries, this music continues to feel immediate, intimate, and alive.
About the Quartet
The quartet began as an ensemble at the Juilliard School and has coached with Joel Krosnick, Joseph Lin, Astrid Schween, Laurie Smukler, Joseph Kalichstein, Roger Tapping, Misha Amory, and numerous others.
In North America, the Isidore Quartet has appeared on major series in Boston; New York; Berkeley; Chicago; Ann Arbor; Pittsburgh; Seattle; Durham; Washington, D.C.; Houston; San Francisco; New Orleans; Cincinnati; Toronto; Montreal; and Vancouver, and has collaborated with several eminent performers, including James Ehnes and Jeremy Denk.
The quartet’s 2025-2026 season included performances in Philadelphia, Cleveland, Calgary, Tulsa, Pasadena, Santa Barbara, New York, and Washington’s Library of Congress; return engagements in Montreal, Berkeley, Houston, La Jolla, Phoenix, Indianapolis, Baltimore, and Spivey Hall in Georgia; and first-time collaborations with clarinetist Anthony McGill, cellist Sterling Elliott, and the Miró Quartet.
The ensemble has performed in Europe at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, and in Bonn (Beethoven Haus), Stuttgart, Cologne, and Dresden, among many others. During the 2025-2026 season, the quartet made its debut in Paris (Philharmonie) and London (Wigmore Hall).
Over the past several years, the quartet has developed a strong connection to the works of composer and pianist Billy Childs, performing his Quartets no. 2 and 3 throughout North America and Europe. In February 2026 it premiered a new Childs quartet written expressly for the ensemble.
Both on stage and outside the concert hall, the Isidore Quartet is deeply invested in connecting with youth and elderly populations, as well as with marginalized communities who otherwise have limited access to high-quality live music performance. The musicians approach music as a “playground” and attempt to break down barriers to encourage collaboration and creativity.
The name Isidore recognizes the ensemble’s musical connection to the Juilliard Quartet: one of that group’s early members was legendary violinist Isidore Cohen. Additionally, it acknowledges a shared affection for a certain libation — legend has it a Greek monk named Isidore concocted the first genuine vodka recipe for the Grand Duchy of Moscow!
This performance is supported in part by a gift from Ms. Susan M. Hansen.
Co-sponsored by the Office of Living-Learning Programs
This is Isidore String Quartet's first performance at the center.
Photos by Jiyang Chen and Eduardus Lee
* Run times listed here are based on information provided at this time and are subject to change.
FAQs
About This Event
Chamber music is classical music written for a small group of musicians, with one performer playing each part. Unlike an orchestra, where sections of instruments play together, chamber music is more like a conversation. Each musician has an important role, creating an intimate, expressive performance where every instrument can be heard.
No. This is an instrumental performance. The musicians perform classical works by composers such as Frank Bridge, Benjamin Britten, Felix Mendelssohn, and Ludwig van Beethoven.
A string quartet features two violins, one viola, and one cello — and each has its own unique voice.
- Violin: The smallest and highest-pitched instrument. Violins often carry the melody and have a bright, clear sound.
- Viola: Slightly larger than a violin and tuned lower. It has a warmer, richer, and deeper tone that often fills in the middle harmonies, though it also has beautiful solo moments.
- Cello: The largest instrument in the quartet. Played while seated, the cello has a deep, resonant sound that often provides the foundation of the music but can also sing lyrical melodies.
Listening for the different sounds and noticing how the musicians "pass" the melody from one instrument to another is part of what makes a string quartet performance so engaging.
Attending a Performance at the Center
The most important thing is that you're comfortable. There is no dress code, so do what feels right for you. Do you want to get dressed to the nines for a special night out? You won't be the only one. Do you feel like keeping things casual? You won't be alone there, either.
All campus parking, including along Alumni Mall, requires a parking permit from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted by signage.
Parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street at 300 Turner Street NW.
- For many Center for the Arts performances and large events, this garage will be staffed by an attendant and payment ($10, cash only) must be made at the time of entry. This event parking price is $2 higher than the garage’s daily rate to allow us to provide staffing to make both entering and exiting the garage more efficient for larger numbers of cars. You may exit at the Turner Street gate.
- All other times, visitors can take a ticket upon entrance and pay the $8 daily rate using Visa or Mastercard when exiting.
Convenient parking is also located in downtown Blacksburg. Town parking is free every day after 5:00 p.m.
Patrons are always welcome to drop off and pick up guests directly at the main doors of the Center for the Arts on Alumni Mall and Turner Street.
Allowing yourself extra time improves the experience for everyone! We recommend arriving at least 45 minutes prior to the start of the performance so you have plenty of time for the safety screening and to get settled in your seats. Our lobbies and galleries open 90 minutes before performances, and the theatre doors open 30 minutes before the performance start time. Ushers will direct you to your seat and are happy to answer any questions.
For the safety of our guests and performers, all patrons may be required to pass through a walk-through metal detector before entering the theatre. The process is quick and touchless, and you may keep your personal belongings with you. If you need an alternate screening method, please speak with a member of our security team.
A small or clutch-size purse or clear bag is recommended. Oversized bags, luggage, and backpacks will not be permitted inside the theatre. Coat check will be available to check these items.
Concessions from Blacksburg Wine Lab are available for most performances. Concessions availability and locations will be included in the What to Know email for ticket holders. Concessions are available beginning an hour before the performance, so arrive early to avoid the lines and enjoy a drink before the show.
Cameras and recording equipment are not permitted inside the theatre during performances. To avoid distracting the artists and those around you, please turn off or silence your cell phone and put away all electronic devices before the performance begins. Photography, video recording, and audio recording are not permitted unless otherwise announced.
If you’re late, you may hear the beginning of the performance from the lobby while you wait to take your seat — either until intermission or an appropriate break in the program as requested and advised by the artists. Admitting late arrivals into the theatre is timed to cause as little disruption as possible to other guests and the performers on stage. In some cases, you may be seated in an alternate location in the theatre.
You will receive a “What to Know” email approximately 48 hours before the performance with helpful information on approximate runtimes, pre- and post-show activities, and any other information you will need to know before you head out the door.
We are committed to being fully accessible to all patrons and their companions and strive to make our patrons’ experiences convenient and comfortable. In addition to our venue’s universal design features, we offer services and accommodations for parking, seating, listening, sensory support, courtesy wheelchair, elevators, restrooms, service animals, sign language, and visual aids. Find out more.
No. Mobile tickets displayed on your smartphone are welcome, though printed tickets are also accepted.
While all sales are final, tickets to most events may be exchanged for another Center for the Arts performance within the current season. Please contact the box office at artscenter@vt.edu or by phone at 540-231-5300 at least one hour in advance of the scheduled performance to request an exchange. Refunds may be offered in extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the box office manager.