Sharon Isbin News

After overseeing an impressive account of Handel's "Messiah" here a couple of seasons ago, Giancarlo Guerrero was back on the Pacific Symphony podium Thursday night, this time leading the ensemble in a program of standards for a subscription series audience.

It's good to be Sharon Isbin. For instance, minding her own business one day last August, she gets a letter.

The White House Music Series continues tomorrow with a celebration of classical music featuring Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell, Grammy Award-winning guitarist Sharon Isbin, renowned cellist Alisa Weilerstein, and acclaimed pianist Awadagin Pratt.

Wednesday was classical music day at the White House. The festivities and performances were sponsored by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, created by executive order in 1982.

Classical music took over the White House on Wednesday as Barack and Michelle Obama used two concerts and a series of workshops for young musicians to send a clear message that the music of the masters isn't just for stuffed shirts.

Matthew Beland, 16 Woodbridge, is one of 18 students from The Neighborhood Music School, who will participate in the "White House Community Classroom Music Series," hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House this Wednesday.

After showcasing jazz, country and Latin music, the White House is going classical next week.

Guitar with orchestra has historically been an unusual pairing, but six-string virtuoso Sharon Isbin is changing that.

In stores: Now Why we care: You could call this Sharon Isbin's folk album. It even has a couple of tracks that feature the classical guitarist's childhood heroine, Joan Baez, still in fine voice.

Sharon Isbin is one of the world's preeminent classical guitarists, and when she appears with the Nashville Symphony this week she'll play the piece that won her a Grammy in 2002: Christopher Rouse's 'Concert de Gaudi,'which evokes dreamy Spanish landscapes through flamenco styles.

Several fascinating threads come together in this week's Detroit Symphony Orchestra concerts: new music by intriguing Russian-born composer Alla Borzova, a major symphony by Rachmaninoff that will morph into the first recording of the DSO and music director Leonard Slatkin for the Naxos label and an overdue DSO debut by guitarist Sharon Isbin.

Guitarist Sharon Isbin, a member of the Aspen Music School faculty, has released the CD, "Journey to the New World." She appears Saturday, Aug.

Guitarist Sharon Isbin, a member of the Aspen Music School faculty, has released the CD, "Journey to the New World." She appears Saturday, Aug.

SINCE PERFORMING VIVALDI'S "CONCERTO in D Major" with the Minneapolis Orchestra at the age of 14, Sharon Isbin has emerged as one of the world's preeminent classical guitarists.

The 29 tracks of Journey to the New World by American guitarist Sharon Isbin are exquisite pieces that are guaranteed to delight those who like the warm, soothing sound of the traditional classical guitar.

The guitar occupies a difficult place in the classical-music world. Long a preeminent pop-music instrument, it has a relatively small classical repertoire, a limited dynamic range and the opportunity for only one or two real stars to emerge every generation.