SHARON ISBIN INTERVIEW #1
(Originally aired on April 9, 2009)
Sharon Isbin is one of the world's premier classical guitarists. She has commissioned and premiered new works from major composers and appeared as a soloist with more than 140 orchestras worldwide. Isbin created Juilliard's guitar department when she arrived at the school in 1989, and today she still chairs it.
In our exclusive interview, Isbin talks about recording her latest album, Journey to the New World, which earned her a Grammy in 2010 (she scored her first Grammy in 2001, the first by a classical guitarist in 28 years). She explains how she enjoyed exploring the eclectic music on this record, and reveals what it was like to meet and record with Joan Baez, who joins Isbin on a track. Isbin also offers intriguing details about her technique and how she approaches playing counterpoint on the guitar.