Pacifica Tickets

Pacifica Quartet is a world renowned quartet that originates from Urbana-Champaign in Illinois, where the group members are also part of the faculty of the University of Illinois. The quartet comprises of Brandon Vamos on cello, Masumi Per Rostad on viola, and Sibbi Bernhardsson and Simin Ganatra on violins.  They are known to have won many prominent prizes from international competitions, the most recent of which includes the Ensemble Award from Musical Americans. The band is currently serving at University of Chicago as its Quartet in Residence, Residence Faculty Quartet at University of Illinois, and as the Visiting Artists at Longy School of Music. At present they are represented by renowned oboist and concert manager Melvin Kaplan, and continue to tour around Europe, Asia and North America frequently. Given Pacifica's high-end performance of classic music, Pacifica tickets are quite sought-after among the most informed music enthusiasts of the genre.

Members of Pacifica Quartet met during various sessions for chamber music and finally formed an ensemble in 1994. Ganatra and Bernhardsson, who are native Southern Californian and Icelandic in their respective origins also learnt from the same violin teacher back in Illinois. The latter happened to be Vamos's parents so that the group members were already closely linked. Rostad became part of the band later, when Bernhardsson came across him at one of the chamber music festivals.  

Records made by Pacifica Quartet so far, include Easley Blackwood's complete string quartet recorded in 1998; the quartet's complete music for Felix Mendelssohn made in 2005; Music Between the Wars: Declarations from 2006; as well as a glimpse of chamber music the composition of which was designed on lines of the trends from the twenties and thirties. In addition, their work includes their complete string quartets for Elliot Carter. The latter receive a nomination for a Grammy Award, which they won.

In 2010 and 2011, they recorded the second volume of The Soviet Experience in closed sessions held at Krannert Center's Foellinger Great Hall. The group now tours across Europe and North America as well as Asia. Their repertoire covers a wide range of music including both contemporary and classical styles, alongside which they commission and also perform about eight new pieces each year. Moreover, the quartet teaches regularly at summer festivals like Madeline Island Music Festival, Interlochen Arts Camp, and received regular invitations to visit as residencies at various schools and universities all across the nation.

The quartet has gained recognition for its daring repertory selections, virtuosity and rich performance style. They have played at some of the biggest concert halls across the world and through 2009 to 2012, were the quartet-in-residence at Metropolitan Museum of Art. Honors won by Pacifica Quartet include Avery Fisher Career Grant from 2006, Cleveland Quartet Award from Chamber Music America in 2002, Naumburg Chamber Music Competition in 1998, Concert Artists Guild Competition in 1997, and Coleman Chamber Music Competition in 1996. This is a classical music act you do not want to miss the live experience of so book some Pacifica tickets.