chicagoensemble.html

The Chicago 21st Century Music Ensemble in collaboration with CrossSound following the Chicago premiere of Singing Pictures featuring five new films and composition by Matt Marello/C. P. First, Claudia Esslinger/Yunkyung Lee, Roald Simonson/Paul Cox, Theo Lipfert/Stefan Hakenberg, and Harold Klemm/Toshiro Saruya.

    In 1991, C. P. First and Guy Bordo, conductor of the University of Chicago Chamber Orchestra, established the Chicago 21st Century Music Ensemble. The Ensemble quickly attracted national attention with its adventurous programing and unique Artists Series. By 1992, the Ensemble earned a residency at the Chicago Public Library as part of the popular Chautauqua Series. Presently the Ensemble is in residence at the Second Saturday Series in Chicago.The Ensemble's performers hail from such notable groups as the Chicago SymphonyOrchestra, the Chicago Lyric Opera, the Group for Contemporary Music, the University ofChicago Contemporary Chamber Players, Tanglewood's Berkshire Music Festival, the MostlyMozart Festival Orchestra at Lincoln Center, the New York Chamber Symphony, and otherimportant ensembles in the U.S. and Europe.
    Since 1992, the Ensemble has commissioned several new works and provided the American, Chicago, or world premieres of works by Luigi Nono, Hans Werner Henze, John Harbison, Sofia Gubaidulina, Ethan Haimo, Daria Semegan, Stephen Hartke, Brian Fennelley, Michalis Lapidakis, and others. In addition to its regular concert series, the Ensemble sponsors an Artists Series that has featured eminent soloists from America and Europe including Paul Bowman, Dimitris Marinos, John Cheek, Leopold LaFosse, Rene Lecuona, the Florida Arts Trio, the Ad Hoc Quartet, David Pituch, Jeremy Ruthrauff, Michael Cameron, the Notre Dame String Trio, Raimundas Katillius, and Davis Brooks. The Ensemble also sponsors concerts of electronic music and a lecture series.
    Since 1996, Philip Morehead has served as the Ensemble's conductor. Mr. Moreheadalso serves as head of music staff for Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists. C. P. First remains the Artistic Director of the Ensemble.