Its name derived from Native American Folklore, the Turtle Island Quartet has been cited as a singular force in the creation of bold, new trends in chamber music for strings. Winner of the 2006 and 2008 Grammy for Best Classical Crossover, Turtle Island fuses the classical quartet esthetic with contemporary American musical styles. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma proclaimed Turtle Island to be “a unified voice that truly breaks new ground – authentic and passionate – a reflection of some of the most creative music-making today.”

The quartet is joined at the Community Concert Hall by master of the mandolin, guitar and violin Mike Marshall. With playing said to be as imaginative and adventurous as it is technically thrilling, Marshall’s is a gift literally revered as a combination of skill and instinct rare in the world of American vernacular instrumentalists.