Contemporaneous is an ensemble of 25 musicians whose mission is to bring to life the most transformative music by living composers through performances, commissions, recordings, and educational programs. Described as "leading new music towards its better self" (I Care If You Listen), Contemporaneous particularly champions the creation of large-scale works and “dream projects,” which composers might not otherwise have the opportunity to realize due to scale.
Based in New York City and active throughout the U.S., Contemporaneous has premiered over 200 new works and has been presented by such institutions as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Park Avenue Armory, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the PROTOTYPE Festival, Merkin Concert Hall, the MATA Festival, St. Ann’s Warehouse, and Bang on a Can. The ensemble has worked with artists including David Byrne, Donnacha Dennehy, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Dawn Upshaw, and Julia Wolfe. Contemporaneous's programming has also received acclaim from community members, artists, and press, with the ensemble’s recent performance of Stranger Love
named one of 2023’s “best classical music performances” by The New York Times.
Contemporaneous also leads participatory programs for public school students in the communities where the ensemble performs. These workshops are designed to instill a passion for new music and convey the power of careful listening and meaningful expression through music. The ensemble has held residencies at such institutions as Colgate University, Hamilton College, City University of New York, the University of New Orleans, Williams College, and Bard College, where the group was founded in 2010.
