Ives Quartet - Press Release

The Ives Quartet, which has attracted international acclaim from New York to San Francisco and Taiwan to London, welcomes violinist Robin Sharp. After performing for two seasons with the San Francisco Symphony, Robin joined the quartet as its first violinist in September 2001. Sharp said, “We all came off the stage after our most recent performance of Beethoven’s Op. 59, No. 1 feeling so lucky to be able to play these incredible pieces.

In addition to performing as quartet-in-residence for the Rocky Ridge Music Center and the Telluride Music Festivals, the ensemble has appeared at New York’s Alice Tully Hall, Princeton University, the Da Camera Society in Los Angeles, St. John’s Smith Square in London and at the Sedona Chamber Music Festival and Sonora Bach Festival. Sharp also noted that, “The chemistry between us has been particularly gratifying to me – my colleagues are like hawks and miss a chance to respond musically. It is also wonderful to be creating a source of solace and diversion for the community through music after the events of September 11”.

Ms. Sharp, is a native of California, and has appeared in recital at Carnegie Hall in New York, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the National Music Hall in Taipei, the Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, and was a soloist with the Indianapolis Symphony. Picked by Carnegie Hall to represent them in the 1997-98 Rising Stars Series, Ms. Sharp and her duo partner Jeremy Denk performed at Weill Recital Hall in January 1998 following a European tour.

She has been a participant at many festivals, including the Isaac Stern Seminar and the Marlboro Music Festival, and is currently on the faculty at California Summer Music in Pebble Beach. Sharp attended the Juilliard School, where she completed her Masters and studied with Joel Smirnoff of the Juilliard String Quartet; the Cleveland Institute of Music where she worked with Donald Weilerstein as his teaching assistant and the Eastman School of Music where he played in a master class for Pinchas Zukerman. She also finished her Bachelor’s at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music working with Zaven Melikian and was a faculty member for three years before joining the San Francisco Symphony. Robin joins Susan Freier, violinist, who also attended the Eastman School of Music and participated in the Cleveland Quartet’s quartet program.

Ms. Sharp formerly served as professor of violin at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Santa Clara University, and California State University at Sacramento, where she was a member of the Sun Quartet. She currently performs with both the Berkeley and California Symphonies as Concertmaster.

The Ives Quartet combines the talent and experience of four artists who each have earned distinction with leading chamber and orchestral ensembles. They have fashioned a sound highly praised for its unity, versatility and supple beauty. The quartet includes Robin Sharp, violin, Susan Freier, violin, Scott Woolweaver, violist, and Steve Harrison, cellist.