David Balakrishnan

David Balakrishnan is a violinist, composer, and the founder of the Turtle Island String Quartet, the San Francisco-based ensemble that has redefined what a string quartet can do. After establishing himself as an improvising popular musician, he earned a composition degree and then worked with TISQ to explore the fusion of a variety of world genres on over 15 studio albums. Their debut, Turtle Island String Quartet (1988), introduced Balakrishnan's cross-genre vision to wide audiences. Among the highlights of a rich discography are Spider Dreams (1992), which showcases Balakrishnan's most frequently performed composition, and A Night in Tunisia, A Week in Detroit (2002), with the Detroit Symphony. Along with the ensemble, Balakrishnan earned Grammys for 4+Four (2005) and A Love Supreme: The Legacy of John Coltrane (2007). Three of his compositions appear on TISQ's Island Prayers (2026).