Sharon Isbin on Karen LeFrak’s Romantico CD

2020 Musical America Instrumentalist of the Year, Sharon Isbin, talks with Anna Singer about her work in composer Karen LeFrak's new album, "Romantico". Sharon talks about the first piece she performed, the first movement, "Bailamos", at the U.S. Capitol in 2023. The full concerto was premiered in January 2024, and the album was recorded with the Orchestra of St. Luke's. Sharon highlights how the concerto combines classical guitar with Latin dance rhythms and features top Latin percussionists. The other two pieces on the album include "Habanera Nights" and "Urban Tango". Sharon discusses her own path to music, even though she originally wanted to be a rocket scientist. Her music has gone to space with astronaut Chris Hadfield though! She reflects on her recent documentary, "Sharon Isbin: Troubadour", and her work at Julliard. She originally founded the guitar department, and continues to keep the student body small to personalize instruction. You can see Sharon at the Vancouver Arts and Music Festival at the end of July, or hear "Romantico" on WQED-FM 89.3 with Anna Singer in the afternoons. Visit https://www.sharonisbin.com/ to learn more. Thanks for tuning in to WQED's Voice of the Arts, Pittsburgh's trusted source for arts and culture in our region. Whether you're passionate about classical music, film, theater, opera, or local music, we’re here to bring you closer to the heart of Pittsburgh's local arts scene. Don’t miss our musician interviews, the latest local music news, and performing arts insights from across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region.  Subscribe and follow to stay connected with the vibrant voices shaping Pittsburgh’s creative community. Visit https://www.wqed.org/ to see what else WQED is doing in our community. Until next time, keep supporting the arts and keep listening to Voice of the Arts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.