Phoenix Avalon | violin
Adrian Steele | violin
Devin Moore | viola
Joshua McClendon | cello
The Isidore String Quartet won the 14th Banff International String Quartet Competition in 2022 and was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant the following year. Founded at The Juilliard School in 2019, the quartet is dedicated to exploring, rediscovering, and revitalising the repertoire.
The name »Isidore« reflects the ensemble’s musical connection with the Juilliard Quartet and the Beaux Arts Trio, whose early members included the legendary violinist Isidore Cohen. Strongly influenced by the Juilliard Quartet, this young New York ensemble is characterised by its unique sound and lively interpretations. A key aspect of this is their approach of treating the old as if it were new and the new as if it were old.
The Isidore String Quartet has performed in renowned concert series throughout North America. It has collaborated with leading artists such as James Ehnes and Jeremy Denk. During the 2025/26 season, the ensemble will collaborate with clarinettist Anthony McGill, cellist Sterling Elliott, and the Miró Quartet for the first time.
In Europe, the quartet has performed at venues including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, the Konzerthaus in Berlin, the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn, the Alte Oper in Frankfurt, the Philharmonie in Cologne, the Brucknerhaus in Linz, the Flagey in Brussels, and at the Lucerne and Edinburgh festivals. During the 2025/26 season, the quartet will make its debuts at the Philharmonie de Paris and London’s Wigmore Hall.
The quartet has developed a strong connection to the works of the American composer and pianist Billy Childs, performing his Quartets Nos. 2 and 3 throughout North America and Europe. In February 2026, the Isidore Quartet premiered his latest quartet, which was dedicated to them.
Both on stage and outside the concert hall, the Isidore Quartet is committed to engaging with people of all ages, as well as those who have limited access to high-quality live concerts. They view music as a ›playground‹ and seek to break down barriers to encourage collaboration and creativity.
