ABOUT ISAIAH

Isaiah Free Pennington divides his time between Bermuda and New York City. Through the summer of 2025, he is based in Bermuda, where he is founding the Bermuda Chamber Music Festival, set to launch its inaugural season from April 24 to May 17 at the Bermuda National Gallery.

Isaiah enjoys an active performance schedule as both a soloist and chamber musician. He has recently performed at venues such as the DiMenna Center for Classical Music and the German Consulate General in New York, where he was featured in a special concert commemorating the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Prior to moving to Bermuda, Isaiah performed extensively for Lincoln Center Stage, specializing in major piano quartet repertoire.

In New York City, Isaiah performs with various orchestras and is frequently called as principal cellist, appearing in concerts at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to the Kaufman Center. A career highlight was premiering Philip Glass’s Symphony No. 14, an experience that deepened his connection to contemporary music and collaboration with living composers.

While in Bermuda, Isaiah serves on the faculty of the Bermuda School of Music, where he is developing a Suzuki cello program and leading outreach initiatives to expand access to classical music and education across the island. In addition to these roles, he is a founding member of a newly formed Bermuda Piano Trio.

As a fellow with the Montclair Orchestra, Isaiah performed alongside principals from the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. This fellowship also led to collaborations in chamber music concerts at Van Vleck House & Gardens and the Morris Museum Back Porch Series, working with musicians from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

Isaiah holds a Master of Music degree from the Mannes School of Music, where he studied under celebrated soloist and chamber musician Marcy Rosen. During his time at Mannes, he was selected for the Orchestra of St. Luke’s Chamber Music Mentorship Program as part of the Mannes Quartet, a competitive initiative that annually supports one New York-based string ensemble. He also trained in the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra method during the Orpheus@Mannes festival, a unique collaboration between the orchestra and the school. Additionally, he gave several high-profile chamber music and solo performances as part of the Mannes Sounds Festival.

Prior to this, Isaiah earned his Bachelor of Music from the Meadows School of the Arts in Dallas, where he studied with renowned soloist Andrés Díaz. During this time, he developed a close association with the Escher String Quartet, receiving mentorship and performing alongside its members over several years.

Isaiah has worked with members of the Juilliard, Orion, Modigliani, and Aviv Quartets, among others, and has participated in masterclasses with renowned artists such as Colin Carr, Matt Haimovitz, Steven Isserlis, Johannes Moser, Philippe Muller, and Raphael Wallfisch.

One of Isaiah’s greatest pleasures is traveling with his cello. His musical journeys have taken him to festivals in France, Italy, and Quebec, as well as on tour in South Africa, where he performed the modern jazz opera Wading Home.

In the little time when Isaiah isn’t playing the cello, he enjoys fly fishing, amateur astronomy, backpacking, and exploring the natural world. A naturally curious person, he brings this spirit of exploration to both his music and teaching.