19 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 Katherine Brudnoy, an attorney, 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, and for 10 years with keyboard artist and Bach scholar Rosalyn Tureck.

Sharon Isbin began practicing the Transcendental Meditation at age 17.

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

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

In 1989, Sharon 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.

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

Sharon Isbin was the first guitarist named Musical America's Instrumentalist of the Year.

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

Sharon Isbin played on Aaron Jay Kernis' Double Concerto with violinist Cho-Liang Lin and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Sharon Isbin won a Grammy 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 performed for the memorial tribute at Ground Zero, which was televised live.

Sharon Isbin's recording of world premiere concertos written for her by Christopher Rouse and Tan Dun won a Grammy in 2002.

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; this was the orchestra's first-ever recording with the guitar.

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

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