Role

:

Ensemble

Period

:

Contemporary

 

NOW Ensemble is a contemporary classical music ensemble that was founded in 2004 in New York City. The group consists of six members: Mark Dancigers (guitar), Patrick Burke (clarinet), Alexandra Sopp (flute), Michael Mizrahi (piano), Logan Coale (double bass), and Sean Dixon (percussion). The ensemble was founded by Dancigers and Burke, who were both graduate students at Yale University at the time. They wanted to create a group that would perform contemporary classical music in a way that was accessible and engaging to a wider audience. They were inspired by the idea of combining classical instruments with electronic sounds and other genres of music. The group's name, NOW Ensemble, reflects their commitment to performing music that is current and relevant. They have commissioned and premiered works by a number of contemporary composers, including Judd Greenstein, Missy Mazzoli, and Nico Muhly. One of the highlights of NOW Ensemble's career was their performance at the Bang on a Can Marathon in 2007. This annual event, which takes place in New York City, features a wide range of contemporary classical music and experimental sounds. NOW Ensemble's performance was well-received and helped to raise their profile in the music world. In 2008, NOW Ensemble released their debut album, "Awake," which featured works by Greenstein, Mazzoli, and Muhly. The album received critical acclaim and helped to establish the group as a leading ensemble in the contemporary classical music scene. Since then, NOW Ensemble has continued to perform and record new works by contemporary composers. They have collaborated with a number of other artists and ensembles, including the Kronos Quartet and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. In 2015, NOW Ensemble released their fourth album, "Dreamfall," which featured works by a number of composers, including Mazzoli, Greenstein, and Scott Wollschleger. The album was well-received and helped to cement the group's reputation as one of the most innovative and exciting ensembles in contemporary classical music. Over the years, NOW Ensemble has received a number of awards and honors for their work. In 2009, they were awarded a Chamber Music America grant for their project "Awake the Machine," which involved the creation of a multimedia performance piece that combined live music with video and animation. In 2012, NOW Ensemble was awarded a prestigious Chamber Music America commissioning grant, which allowed them to commission new works by a number of composers, including Mazzoli, Greenstein, and Wollschleger. Overall, NOW Ensemble has established itself as one of the most exciting and innovative ensembles in contemporary classical music. Their commitment to performing new and relevant works by contemporary composers has helped to push the boundaries of classical music and make it more accessible to a wider audience.

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