The Tryon Concert Association is set to host the Pacifica Quartet for an exhilarating performance on November 18, 2025, at the Tryon Fine Arts Center. The concert will begin at 19:30 and marks the second event in the organization’s 2025-2026 season dedicated to chamber music.
Founded in 1994, the Pacifica Quartet has gained acclaim for its remarkable virtuosity and vibrant performance style. The ensemble consists of skilled musicians: Simin Ganatra and Austin Hartmann on violins, Mark Holloway on viola, and Brandon Vamos on cello. Over the years, the quartet has received numerous prestigious accolades, including the 1998 Naumberg Chamber Music Award and the Avery Fisher Career Grant. In addition, they won a Grammy Award for their recording of “Contemporary Voices,” which features compositions by three Pulitzer Prize-winning composers.
The Pacifica Quartet has performed in major cultural hubs across North America, Australia, Asia, and the United Kingdom. Their current season includes appearances at renowned venues such as New York City, San Francisco, and the Library of Congress, among others. In Tryon, music enthusiasts can expect an engaging performance that highlights the ensemble’s range as interpreters of the string quartet repertoire.
Program Highlights
The upcoming concert will feature a carefully curated program. The evening will commence with Charles Ives’ “String Quartet No. 1, Op. 57,” a piece that incorporates recognizable hymns transformed into innovative musical expressions. Ives, while studying at Yale University, famously experimented with hymns, leading to mixed reactions among churchgoers. This work reflects his unique approach to familiar melodies.
Next on the program is Erich Korngold’s “String Quartet No. 3 in D major, Op. 34,” which was composed during his time in Hollywood. Korngold’s background as a film score composer influences this piece, as he interweaves themes from well-known films such as “Between Two Worlds” and “The Sea Wolf.” Audiences familiar with these cinematic scores will recognize the musical motifs featured in the quartet.
The concert will conclude with Antonín Dvořák’s “String Quartet in F major, Op. 96,” commonly known as the “American.” Composed during his summer stay in Spillville, Iowa, this work is said to reflect Dvořák’s appreciation for the natural beauty of the American landscape, reminiscent of his native Bohemia. Critics suggest that the birdsong he encountered during his countryside walks inspired the melodic elements present in this composition.
For more details about this concert and other events organized by the Tryon Concert Association, interested individuals can visit tryonconcerts.org or call 888-501-0297. This performance promises to be a memorable evening celebrating the rich tradition of chamber music.
