Winners of a 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant and First Prize at the 14th Banff International String Quartet Competition, the New York City–based Isidore String Quartet has emerged as one of the most distinctive and exciting chamber ensembles of its generation. Formed in 2019 at the Juilliard School, the quartet’s mission is to revisit, rediscover, and reinvigorate the string quartet repertory, guided by the principle of “approaching the established as if it were brand new, and the new as if it were firmly established.”

Comprising violinists Adrian Steele and Phoenix Avalon, violist Devin Moore, and cellist Joshua McClendon, the quartet draws deep inspiration from the legacy of the Juilliard String Quartet. The ensemble began its artistic journey as a student group at Juilliard and, following a pandemic hiatus, reconvened at the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival in 2021 under the mentorship of acclaimed cellist Joel Krosnick. Since then, the quartet has worked with leading coaches and artists across the chamber music field.

Isidore’s performance career spans major concert series and festivals throughout North America and Europe. They have appeared at venues including Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, and across the U.S. and Canada in New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, and many other cities. Upcoming and recent engagements include debuts at the Philharmonie de Paris and Wigmore Hall, alongside performances at the Library of Congress and major university and festival series.

The Isidore Quartet frequently collaborates with distinguished artists, including violinist James Ehnes, pianist Jeremy Denk, and clarinetist Anthony McGill. A significant artistic partnership with composer–pianist Billy Childs has led to performances of his quartets throughout North America and Europe and culminates in a 2026 premiere written specifically for the ensemble.

Beyond the concert stage, Isidore is deeply committed to community engagement and educational outreach, working with young musicians, older adults, and underserved communities to expand access to chamber music experiences. Their work often blurs traditional boundaries between formal concert life and community-centered music-making.

The quartet’s name honors violinist Isidore Cohen, an early member of the Juilliard String Quartet, and reflects the ensemble’s lineage of mentorship, curiosity, and creative play.