Pacifica Quartet Leaving U of I, Starts at Indiana Next Fall

The University of Illinois is losing the Pacifica Quartet.

The Grammy-winning string ensemble has accepted an offer from Indiana University, and is leaving at the end of the spring semester. In addition to a large touring and recording schedule, the group performed often at the U of I's Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

Center Director Mike Ross says they've matured beautifully in their nine years on campus. He says the ensemble's time at the U of I has allowed their relationship to change over time.

"One of the forms that I enjoy the most is the form of collaborative thinking, and brainstorming, and imagining the future," Ross said. "As well as ways to enable the art forms that we work with to have as much impact on the well-being of individuals and families and communities and societies on our global collective as possible."

Violinist Sibbi Berhnardsson, who is a member of the quartet, said the move had nothing to do with Illinois' finances, or other issues at the U of I. He said the quartet struggled with the move, but saw it as a challenge to become part of the storied school of music at Indiana.

"We are very much aware that we are giving up a lot, " Berhnardsson said. "And the only reason we accepted this was it just felt it was a good time sort of take on a new challenge. They have wonderful faculty there, and it's a storied music school.'

In 2009, the Pacifica Quartet won a Grammy for the Best Chamber Music Performance of 2008.

(Photo courtesy of Krannert Center for the Performing Arts)