Sharon Isbin: Troubadour
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Sharon Isbin: Troubadour, produced by Susan Dangel, is the first full-scale documentary of Sharon Isbin, the world’s premier classical guitarist, a trailblazing performer and teacher who over the course of her career has broken through numerous barriers to rise to the top of a traditionally male-dominated field. The one-hour film explores what it takes to nurture a dream against all odds to become a world class musician.

Narrated by NPR’s Susan Stamberg, the film combines performance and documentary to focus on Isbin’s unusual and inspiring journey which has expanded and transformed the landscape of the instrument. In addition, the film explores Isbin’s role as teacher of a new generation of guitarists at both The Juilliard School, where she created the first guitar department, and the Aspen Music Festival. And it explores how her career has intersected with many different aspects of today’s musical world beyond the realm of classical music, including television, film music, NASA, and collaborations with other contemporary musicians from the rock, pop, folk, jazz and Latin genres. Performances are showcased from international concert stages to the Grammys and the White House; guests include Joan Baez, Garrison Keillor, Minnesota Orchestra; composers Tan Dun, John Corigliano, Christopher Rouse, and Joan Tower; rock legends Steve Vai, Janis Ian, Leslie Gore; jazz pioneer Stanley Jordan; fiddler Mark O’Connor; Paul Winter, Martina Navratilova, David Hyde Pierce, and many others