17 Facts About Sharon Isbin

Sharon Isbin is an American classical guitarist and the founder and director of the guitar department at the Juilliard School.

Sharon Isbin was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to attorney Katherine Brudnoy and Herbert S Isbin, a nuclear scientist and professor at the University of Minnesota.

Sharon Isbin began her guitar studies at the age of nine with Aldo Minella in Varese, Italy.

Sharon Isbin later studied with Jeffrey Van, Sophocles Papas, Andres Segovia, Oscar Ghiglia, Alirio Diaz, as well as keyboard artist and Bach scholar Rosalyn Tureck for 10 years.

In 2005, Sharon Isbin performed the world premiere of Steve Vai's Blossom Suite, accompanied by the composer himself.

Sharon Isbin's winning of the Musical America's Instrumentalist of the Year made her the first guitarist in the award's history to do so.

Sharon Isbin was the first guitarist to win the Munich ARD International Competition.

Sharon Isbin won a Grammy Award in 2001 for her work in Dreams of a World: Folk-Inspired Music for Guitar, becoming the first classical guitarist to win a Grammy in 28 years.

On September 11,2002, Sharon Isbin's performed for the memorial tribute at Ground Zero, which was televised live.

Sharon Isbin 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 Joaquin Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez with the New York Philharmonic.

Sharon Isbin was the first guitar soloist to perform with the New York Philharmonic in 26 years.

In 2010, Sharon Isbin won another Grammy Award for the Best Instrumental Soloist in her CD, Journey to the New World.

In November 2009, Sharon Isbin performed a concert at the White House by invitation of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

In 2010, Sharon Isbin won another Grammy Award for the Best Instrumental Soloist in her CD, Journey to the New World.

In 1989, Sharon Isbin created the Master of Music degree, Graduate Diploma, and Artist Diploma for classical guitar at the Juilliard School, becoming the founding director of their guitar department; she added the Bachelor of Music degree and Undergraduate Diploma to the program in 2007, and the Doctor of Musical Arts in 2018.

Sharon Isbin is the author of the Classical Guitar Answer Book, and is the director of the Guitar Department at the Aspen Music Festival.

Sharon Isbin participated alongside the likes of Katy Perry, Sting, Jerry Seinfeld, Angelique Kidjo and Jim James.