American Modern Ensemble

The American Modern Ensemble performs an exceptionally wide variety of American music, most of it contemporary. The group appears at a large assortment of venues and cultivates collaborations with many composers and performers. The American Modern Ensemble was formed in New York in 2005 by composer Robert Paterson and his wife, violinist Victoria Paterson. They continue to serve as artistic director and executive director, respectively. From the larger group, performers are chosen for individual concerts according to the repertory performed. The ensemble's membership is dynamic; 15 to 25 new members are added annually according to programming decisions. Groups range from chamber ensembles to small orchestras. The American Modern Ensemble seeks to perform a wide variety of American music, with an emphasis on music by living composers. The ensemble has performed music by more than 75 composers in thoroughly diverse styles, from Milton Babbitt to John Luther Adams and Ethelbert Nevin, as well as by Robert Paterson. The AME has performed more than 250 works by living composers to sold-out crowds at such prime New York venues as Carnegie Hall, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Lincoln Center. In the summer, it generally performs at the Mostly Modern Festival in Saratoga Springs, New York. Concerts often include on-stage chats with composers and performers. From 2006 to 2016, the AME held a composition competition, at first for composers 18 to 35 years old, adding other age tiers later. As of 2020, the group was seeking funding to reestablish the competition on an ongoing basis. The AME maintains various forms of educational outreach and has held residencies at such institutions as Princeton University, the CUNY Graduate Center in New York, and Rutgers University. It has collaborated with the Dance Theater of Harlem and other venues. The American Modern Ensemble has made several recordings, mostly on its own American Modern Recordings label. In 2020, the group moved to Ecstatic Records for a recording of Michael Torke's Being.
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