Since its formation in 1987, The Wister Quartet has earned high praise from critics and audiences alike for its superb musicianship and memorable performances. In addition to concerts in Europe and China, the Quartet performs regularly in concert series presented by The Philadelphia Orchestra, The German Society of Pennsylvania, The Chamber Music Society of Bethlehem, and the Glencairn Museum.  In the summertime they’ve appeared at such places as Music at Gretna, the Lenape Chamber Players Gala Concerts in Doylestown, and the Chamber Series at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. The Quartet has recorded for Direct-to-Tape Records; its first CD was nominated for a Grammy. It is the core group of the popular Philadelphia chamber ensemble, 1807 & Friends, which performs at Philadelphia's Academy of Vocal Arts. 1807 & Friends’ recent recording on the Direct-to-Tape label, “The Philadelphia Connection”, features the Wister Quartet’s highly acclaimed performance of the Barber String Quartet.

Nancy Bean, violin, has been a member of The Philadelphia Orchestra since 1983 and served as its Assistant Concertmaster until her retirement in 2009 to devote herself to chamber music. A Seattle native, she is a graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music, studying with Jascha Brodsky and Felix Galimir. She has appeared as soloist with The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, the Everett Symphony, and Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia. She has performed in chamber concerts with Christoph Eschenbach, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Emanuel Ax, Yefim Bronfman, Sarah Chang, Alicia de Larrocha, Radu Lupu, Yo-Yo Ma and Garrick Ohlsson. She is Artistic Director of 1807 & Friends chamber ensemble and violinist with the Barnard Trio, the Florian Trio, Duo Paganini, Duo Parisienne, Duo Malibran and the Amerita Chamber Players.
Davyd Booth, violin, has been a violinist and keyboard player in The Philadelphia Orchestra since 1973 and was named its harpsichordist in 1999. He was a member of the Philarte Quartet for 14 years; he is Co-Director and harpsichordist for the Amerita Chamber Ensemble and violinist with 1807 & Friends chamber ensemble. A graduate of the New School of Music, he studied violin with Jascha Brodsky and piano with Susan Starr and Martha Massena. He was co-host of "Great Singers Remembered", which ran for four and a half years on WHYY. He has made several solo recordings with Direct-to-Tape Records.
Pamela Fay, viola, is a substitute violist with The Philadelphia Orchestra and is a member of the Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia. She has been a member of the Toronto Symphony and the LeClair String Quartet and is  the violist of 1807 & Friends chamber ensemble. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto.  An active chamber musician, she has performed in chamber concerts with Emanuel Ax, Yefim Bronfman, Alicia de Larrocha, Christoph Eschenbach, Garrick Ohlsson, Sir Andrew Davis, Janos Starker, Wolfgang Sawallisch, and Yo-Yo Ma.
Lloyd Smith, violoncello,  has been a member of The Philadelphia Orchestra since 1967. Named Assistant Principal in 1988 and Acting Associate Principal in 2002, he retired in 2003 to devote himself to chamber music and composing. He is the cellist of 1807 & Friends chamber ensemble and the Amerita Chamber Ensemble.  A graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music, his teachers were Leonard Rose and Orlando Cole. He has participated in the Marlboro Music Festivals, where he was coached by Pablo Casals and  the Budapest String Quartet. He has recorded with Columbia, CRI, Leonarda, Capstone and Direct-to-Tape and received the C. Hartman Kuhn Award for Outstanding Achievement from The Philadelphia Orchestra in 2002.

Anne Sullivan, harpist

Anne Sullivan began her career as a concert harpist at age twelve when she appeared twice as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra.  A native of the Philadelphia area and a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, she is in demand as a recitalist, chamber musician and symphonic soloist. Her orchestral appearances have included engagements with the Baltimore Symphony, the Delaware Symphony where she was principal harpist, the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and the Opera Company of Philadelphia.  She has accompanied many classical and popular artists including Luciano Pavarotti, Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra and Roger Daltrey of “The Who.” She has been listed in “Who’s Who of Rising Young Americans” and “2000 Notable American Women.”  Her first solo recording Romantische was released in 2007.

In 1986, she co-founded the flute and harp duo SPARX with flutist Joan Sparks.  The duo has appeared in concert across the country and received numerous national awards.  SPARX produces a concert series in Wilmington, Delaware, a summer Chamber Music Festival and is in residence at The Tatnall School.  The duo has released three CD recordings: Reflections, The Power of Two, and Christmas Echoes.

Ms. Sullivan was a member of the music theory faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music from 1982-2002.  She is the author and arranger of more than two dozen works for harp and has published a series of ear training books specifically for the harp student. Her dedication to the development of complete musicianship skills in her students has brought her acclaim both as a teacher and a lecturer. Currently, she is the harp instructor at the University of Delaware and at Swarthmore (PA) College.