PACIFICA QUARTET

Simin Ganatra, violin
Sibbi Bernhardsson, violin
Masumi Per Rostad, viola
Brandon Vamos, cello

and

Rami Vamos, guitar

The Pacifica Quartet celebrated its 10 th anniversary in the 2004-2005 season with its first tour of Japan, its first appearance at Wigmore Hall in London, a performance of all five Elliott Carter quartets for San Francisco Performances, a concert at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the release of the complete Mendelssohn string quartets on the Cedille label, and more than 60 concerts across the country. In 2005-2006, the Pacifica makes a European tour that includes a re-engagement at Wigmore Hall in London, and debuts in Brussels and Stuttgart, plays a three-concert series in Chicago, performs two concerts at Lincoln Center in New York, two in Washington DC, and concerts across the country from Boston to New Orleans to Tucson. Collaborations include the Emerson String Quartet, the Miro Quartet, the Avalon Quartet, and pianists Wu Han and Ursula Oppens.

Rising to prominence soon after its creation in 1994, the Pacifica swept top prizes in three of chamber music’s most important international competitions for young ensembles, the 1996 Coleman Chamber Music Competition, the 1997 Concert Artists Guild Competition, and the 1998 Naumburg Chamber Music Competition. In 2002, the Quartet was further honored with Chamber Music America ’s prestigious Cleveland Quartet Award, giving them concerts in eight of America ’s most important venues, and was appointed a member of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s CMS Two program for gifted young musicians . For two years beginning in the fall of 2003, this position involved the Quartet in the full range of activities of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, from performances in Alice Tully Hall to community partnerships and leading roles in the Chamber Music Society's educational activities.

The Pacifica Quartet serves as Faculty Quartet in Residence at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, and is Quartet in Residence at the University of Chicago , where it is the first resident ensemble in the history of the institution. Reflecting its dedication to musicians and music lovers of the next generation, the Pacifica Quartet was instrumental in creating the Music Integration Project, an innovative program that provides musical performances and teacher training to inner-city elementary schools. In addition, the Quartet regularly teaches and performs at summer festivals, including Fontana Chamber Arts, Music in the Vineyards, Interlochen Arts Camp and the Madeline Island Music Festival, and is also frequently invited for visiting residencies at universities and schools nationwide.

The members of the Pacifica Quartet share a unique history of personal and musical friendship. First violinist Simin Ganatra, born and raised in southern California , initially played with cellist Brandon Vamos and violinist Sibbi Bernhardsson while they were all teenagers. Sibbi later brought his good friend Masumi Rostad to the group. Originating on the West Coast, where it played many of its earliest concerts together, the Quartet takes its name from the awe-inspiring Pacific Ocean . Throughout their journey as a string quartet, its members continually strive to be Distinct as the billows/yet one as the sea. (James Montgomery)

For further information about the Pacifica Quartet, please visit www.PacificaQuartet.com.

Rami Vamos, guitar