International Contemporary Ensemble

The International Contemporary Ensemble is a New York- and Chicago-based chamber collective known for its adventurous interpretations of new and contemporary music. The group has premiered over 1,000 works by contemporary composers such as Georges Aperghis, David Lang, and Pauline Oliveros. The ensemble was formed in 2001 by flutist Claire Chase and included several other alumni from Ohio’s Oberlin Conservatory. It began performing in 2002 in both New York and Chicago, and the group divides its time between both locations. Additionally, it also tours and performs at festivals in Europe, Japan, and South America, and engages in residency programs like ICElab, and the 21st century Young Composers Project. Other outreach programs include OpenICE, which offers free performances, the free online video library DigitICE, and the orchestral mentoring initiative, EntICE. It premiered founding member Huang Ruo’s Chamber Concerto Cycle in 2003 at the Miller Theater of Columbia University. The performance received enthusiastic responses from critics, and the ICE released a recording of the work in 2007. The group recorded prolifically in the 2010s and released more than 15 albums including Xenakis: Ensemble Music 3, Seven Responses, and the Grammy-nominated Aequa. Other recognition includes the American Music Center’s Trailblazer Award, an ASCAP award for adventurous programming, and in 2014 the group was chosen as the Musical America Ensemble of the Year. In 2018 it recorded the music of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Du Yun, on the critically acclaimed album Du Yun: Dinosaur Scar. The group has remained very active in the recording studio through the 2020s, and released Eric Lyon: Giga Concerto, biome i.i, George Lewis: Afterword, An Opera in Two Acts, and it also appeared on several compilations including Eric Nathan: Missing Words, and Augusta Read Thomas: The Auditions. ~ RJ Lambert