International Contemporary Ensemble

History

The International Contemporary Ensemble was founded in Chicago in 2001 by Claire Chase (Ensemble flautist and former executive director). The early ensemble—consisting primarily of alumni from the Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio—presented its first Chicago concert at the Three Arts Club in January 2002. In the following year, the Ensemble made its New York City debut at the Miller Theatre.

Since its founding, the Ensemble has premiered over 500 compositions, many of these commissions and collaborations spawning from their noteworthy residency programs: the 21st Century Young Composers Project and ICElab. In addition to commissioning emerging composers, the ensemble has also premiered numerous works by world-renowned composers, including Georges Aperghis, Alvin Lucier, Pauline Oliveros, John Zorn, David Lang, Liza Lim, Dai Fujikura, Chaya Czernowin, Julio Estrada, Amir Shpilman, George E. Lewis, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, and Carla Kihlstedt, among others.[[File:International Contemporary Ensemble, Mostly Mozart Festival, August 22, 2013.jpg|thumb|right|ICE performing at the Mostly Mozart Festival on August 22, 2013.]]The International Contemporary Ensemble has performed at the Lincoln Center Festival (New York), Musica Nova Helsinki (Finland), Wien Modern (Austria), Acht Brücken Music for Cologne (Germany), La Cité de la Musique (Paris), the Darmstädter Ferienkurse (Germany), Mostly Mozart Festival (New York), as well as tours of Japan, Brazil and France. They have held residencies at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Mostly Mozart Festival, New York University, Columbia College (Chicago), and Conservatorio de las Rosas (Morelia, Mexico), among others.

The International Contemporary Ensemble is currently based in Brooklyn, New York with George E. Lewis serving as their artistic director.

Members

ICE is a flexible collective of thirty-eight performing artists, including strings, woodwinds, piano, percussion, voice, composers, and light and sound designers. As an artist-run organization, most of ICE's executive leadership, concert production, marketing, fundraising, technology and database systems are managed by members of the ensemble.

Discography

• B I O M E I.I Kate Gentile, International Contemporary Ensemble (Obliquity Records, 2023)
• isomonstrosity isomonstrosity, International Contemporary Ensemble (Brassland, 2022)
• Proving Up Missy Mazzoli, Royce Vavrek, Opera Omaha, International Contemporary Ensemble, Christopher Rountree (PentaTone, 2020)
• Coalescence Cycle Vol. 1: Music for Soloists and Electronics Rand Steiger, International Contemporary Ensemble (New Focus Recordings, 2019)
• Modules ExclusiveOr, Architeuthis Walks On Land, International Contemporary Ensemble (Carrier Records, 2019)
• Anatomy Theater David Lang, Mark Dion, International Contemporary Ensemble, Christopher Rountree (Cantaloupe Music, 2019)
• Hagoromo Nathan Davis, International Contemporary Ensemble, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Katalin Károlyi, Peter Tantsits (Tundra, New Focus Recordings, 2018)
• End Stages; Violin Concerto Michael Hersch, Patricia Kopatchinskaja, International Contemporary Ensemble, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (New Focus Recordings, 2018)
• Seven Responses The Crossing, International Contemporary Ensemble, Donald Nally (Innova Recordings, 2017)
• Wintersongs Chaya Czernowin - International Contemporary Ensemble, Steven Schick, Jeffrey Gavett, Kai Wessel (Kairos, 2017)
• Æsopica Marcos Balter, International Contemporary Ensemble (Tundra, New Focus Recordings, 2016)
• The Will to Adorn George Lewis, International Contemporary Ensemble (Tundra, 2016)
• Afterglow composer Keeril Makan (Mode, 2013)

With Dai Fujikura

• Ice Dai Fujikura, International Contemporary Ensemble, Jayce Ogren, Matthew Ward (Kairos, 2013)

With Du Yun

• Dinosaur Scar Du Yun, International Contemporary Ensemble (Tudra, 2018)

With John Zorn

• On the Torment of Saints, the Casting of Spells and the Evocation of Spirits (Tzadik, 2013)

With John Adams

• Son Of Chamber Symphony / String Quartet St. Lawrence String Quartet (Nonesuch, 2011)

References

References

1. http://www.iceorg.org/about/index.html {{Webarchive. link. (2011-01-03 http://www.iceorg.org Official website of the International Contemporary Ensemble)
2. Wagman, Elissa. "Chicago Tribune: "It can break the ICE in any space" It can break the ICE in any space Ensemble doesn't adhere to tradition or boundaries".
3. Wagman, Elissa. "It can break the ICE in any space" It can break the ICE in any space Ensemble doesn't adhere to tradition or boundaries". [[Chicago Tribune]].
4. Wagman, Elissa. (June 2, 2005). "It can break the ICE in any space Ensemble doesn't adhere to tradition or boundaries". Chicago Tribune.
5. "ICE: About".
6. Alan G. Artner, "An evening of instant gratification," Chicago Tribune, April 27, 2015, Section 4, p. 5
7. "Staff & Artists".
8. "ICE Staff & Artists".
9. (2023). "Kate Gentile {{!}} International Contemporary Ensemble - B I O M E I.I".
10. (2022-11-18). "isomonstrosity & International Contemporary Ensemble - isomonstrosity: Johan Lenox / Ellen Reid / Yuga Cohler".
11. (2020). "Missy Mazzoli & Royce Vavrek • Opera Omaha • International Contemporary Ensemble • Christopher Rountree - Proving Up".
12. (2019). "Rand Steiger, International Contemporary Ensemble - Coalescence Cycle Vol. 1: Music for Soloists and Electronics".
13. (2019). "ExclusiveOr / Architeuthis Walks On Land / International Contemporary Ensemble - Modules".
14. (2019). "David Lang, Mark Dion, International Contemporary Ensemble, Christopher Rountree - Anatomy Theater".
15. (2018). "Nathan Davis, International Contemporary Ensemble, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Katalin Károlyi, Peter Tantsits - Hagoromo".
16. (2018). "Michael Hersch, Patricia Kopatchinskaja, International Contemporary Ensemble, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra - End Stages; Violin Concerto".
17. (2017-02-03). "The Crossing, International Contemporary Ensemble, Donald Nally - Seven Responses".
18. (2017). "Chaya Czernowin - International Contemporary Ensemble, Steven Schick, Jeffrey Gavett, Kai Wessel - Wintersongs".
19. (2016). "Marcos Balter , International Contemporary Ensemble - Æsopica".
20. (2013). "Keeril Makan - International Contemporary Ensemble – Afterglow". discogs.com.
21. (2013). "Dai Fujikura - International Contemporary Ensemble, Jayce Ogren, Matthew Ward - Ice".
22. (2018). "Du Yun, International Contemporary Ensemble - Dinosaur Scar".
23. (31 March 2011). "Nonesuch Records Son of Chamber Symphony / String Quartet".
24. (2011). "John Adams – International Contemporary Ensemble Conducted by John Adams / St. Lawrence String Quartet – Son Of Chamber Symphony / String Quartet". discogs.com.