Pacifica Quartet to Captivate Audience at Tryon Concert

The Tryon Concert Association will feature the acclaimed Pacifica Quartet as part of its 2025-2026 season of chamber music concerts. The performance is scheduled for November 18, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. at the Tryon Fine Arts Center, promising an evening filled with exceptional music and artistry.

Founded in 1994, the Pacifica Quartet has established a reputation for its remarkable virtuosity and dynamic performance style. The ensemble consists of Simin Ganatra (violin), Austin Hartmann (violin), Mark Holloway (viola), and Brandon Vamos (cello). Their accolades include the 1998 Naumberg Chamber Music Award, Chamber Music America’s Cleveland Quartet Award, and an Avery Fisher Career Grant. Notably, they received a Grammy Award for their recording, *Contemporary Voices*, which features works by three Pulitzer Prize-winning composers.

The Pacifica Quartet has performed in major cities across North America, Australia, Asia, and the United Kingdom. This season, they will also appear in renowned venues such as New York City, San Francisco, and the Library of Congress, in addition to their much-anticipated concert in Tryon.

Dynamic Program Featuring Iconic Compositions

The program for the upcoming concert reflects the ensemble’s commitment to both classic and contemporary music. Highlights include String Quartet No. 1, Op. 57, by Charles Ives, a work that incorporates familiar hymns in innovative ways. Ives, who played the organ at Yale University, often alarmed listeners with his unconventional interpretations of hymns.

The concert will also feature String Quartet No. 3 in D major, Op. 34, by Erich Korngold. This piece, composed during Korngold’s time in Hollywood, integrates themes from his film scores, making it particularly appealing to cinema enthusiasts familiar with works like *Between Two Worlds* and *The Sea Wolf*.

Closing the evening is Antonín Dvořák’s String Quartet in F major, Op. 96, famously known as the “American” quartet. Composed during his stay in Spillville, Iowa, while working on his New World Symphony, this piece reflects Dvořák’s affection for the Iowa landscape and the birdsong he encountered on his walks. Critics suggest that the pastoral beauty of the region evoked memories of his native Bohemia, further enriching the work’s emotional depth.

For those interested in attending this remarkable concert, more information is available at tryonconcerts.org or by calling 888-501-0297. The Pacifica Quartet’s performance promises to be a highlight of the season, showcasing their artistic brilliance and passion for music that resonates across generations.