Recognized for its virtuosity, exuberant performance style, and often-daring repertory choices, over the past two decades the Pacifica Quartet has achieved international recognition as one of the finest chamber ensembles performing today. Formed in 1994, the Pacifica Quartet was awarded a 2006 Avery Fisher Career Grant and named “Ensemble of the Year” by Musical America in 2009. They are currently quartet-in-residence and full-time faculty at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music and in 2017, the Quartet was appointed to lead the Center for Advanced Quartet Studies at the Aspen Music Festival and School.

The Pacifica Quartet has been praised as the preeminent interpreter of string quartet cycles and as a staunch advocate of contemporary music. In 2008, the Quartet released its Grammy Award-winning recording of Carter’s first and fifth quartets on the Naxos label.

In the 2018–19 season, the Pacifica Quartet continues its exploration of the Beethoven cycle at the National Arts Centre (Ottawa) and for the Portland Friends of Chamber Music, and the Shostakovich cycle for Chamber Music San Francisco and Skidmore College. Other season highlights include performances at Shriver Hall with Marc-André Hamelin, a Florida tour with Sharon Isbin, and concerts in Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Kansas City, and Vancouver. 

The Pacifica Quartet is endorsed by D'Addario and proudly uses their strings.