International Contemporary Ensemble
The International Contemporary Ensemble is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that commissions, develops, and premieres new works by living composers, serving classical and contemporary music audiences, educational institutions, and a global network of festivals and partner foundations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What International Contemporary Ensemble does
The International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), legally THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE FOUNDATION, INC., is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 2001 by flutist and MacArthur Fellow Claire Chase. Described by The New Yorker as "America's foremost new-music group," ICE commissions, develops, and premieres new works by living composers, having debuted over 1,000 compositions since inception. Its artistic direction is led by George Lewis, and the Ensemble operates as a collective of rotating instrumentalists rather than a fixed technology-driven platform.
ICE's core "product" is live contemporary-classical performance and the infrastructure that supports it: a commissioning pipeline for new scores, residencies and educational programs (Ensemble Evolution, Walden School Young Musicians Program, Luna Composition Lab, Afro-Diasporic Opera Forum, Columbia Composers), and recordings distributed via albums and video. Distribution channels are direct concert presentations at major US venues (Carnegie Hall, Miller Theatre, MoMA, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Walt Disney Concert Hall) and international festivals (Maerzmusik, Warsaw Autumn, Darmstadt, Wien Modern, Big Ears, Adelaide, Ojai). There is no proprietary technology stack, software product, or AI component; the Ensemble's intellectual capital resides in its composer relationships and performance catalog.
Revenue is generated entirely through contributed income: individual donations (one-time, monthly sustaining, and legacy giving), foundation and corporate grants (Mellon, Howard Gilman, Fromm, Jerome, MacArthur, Cheswatyr, Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels, BMI, Amphion, Gladys Krieble Delmas, Siemens Musikstiftung, and others), public funding from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York State Council for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts, plus ticket sales and event revenue. Yamaha Artist Services New York serves as the exclusive piano sponsor. ICE operates with a very small staff (1–10 employees per firmographic data) and is governed by an independent board, with no parent company, subsidiaries, or disclosed financial figures.
International Contemporary Ensemble firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- International Contemporary Ensemble
- Legal name
- THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE FOUNDATION, INC.
- Website
- https://iceorg.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The International Contemporary Ensemble is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that commissions, develops, and premieres new works by living composers, serving classical and contemporary music audiences, educational institutions, and a global network of festivals and partner foundations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
International Contemporary Ensemble industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts Services
- NAICS
- Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Custom Music & Original Score/Composition (MPAIALAD), Performing Arts & Music Lessons (Dance, Drumming, Instrument Lessons, Theater) (THAJAKAC), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)
Keywords
Where International Contemporary Ensemble is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
International Contemporary Ensemble business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: The organization relies heavily on individual contributions through one-time gifts, monthly sustaining donations, and legacy/planned giving. Donations support commissioning, performance, and professional development programs.
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: Major foundation support from Mellon Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, Fromm Music Foundation, Jerome Foundation, and others. Corporate sponsorship from Yamaha Artist Services for piano provision.
- Public Funding: Support from government arts agencies including New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council for the Arts, and National Endowment for the Arts.
- Ticket Sales and Event Revenue: Revenue generated from concert performances, festival appearances, and special events. Many events offer free admission or ticket-based attendance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Donation-based support model |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
International Contemporary Ensemble product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The International Contemporary Ensemble is a nonprofit performing arts collective that commissions, develops, and premieres new works by living composers through live concert performances. It supplements performances with educational residencies at universities and conservatories, professional development programs for emerging artists, and recordings of contemporary classical repertoire. Revenue is generated through ticket sales, foundation and government grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations.
Product overview
International Contemporary Ensemble is a performing arts organization (music ensemble), not a technology product company. It operates as a contemporary music collective offering live performances, commissioning and premiering new works by living composers, and educational programs through residencies at institutions like The Walden School. The organization's activities center on concerts, festivals, and educational initiatives rather than software products or technology offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Live Concert Performances Live performances of contemporary classical and experimental music by a flexible chamber ensemble of approximately 30 musicians, presented at major venues and festivals for general audiences, venue presenters, and festival programmers.
- Commissioning and Premiere Services Commissioning, developing, and premiering new musical works by living composers, providing collaborative rehearsal, performance, and professional development support to composers.
- Educational Residencies Week-long residencies at universities, conservatories, and music schools involving workshops, master classes, panel discussions, and collaborative performances for students and faculty.
- Ensemble Evolution Program Professional development program for emerging musicians and composers providing mentorship, collaborative performance opportunities, and career-launching support.
- Recordings and Albums Audio and video recordings of contemporary classical works premiered or performed by the Ensemble, distributed digitally for audiences and music enthusiasts.
- Walden Young Musicians Program Summer program partnership with The Walden School for musically inclined students ages 9-18, providing training, mentorship, and original composition opportunities.
- Cheswatyr Incubator Project Collaborative commissioning and development initiative with PS21 and the Cheswatyr Foundation supporting development and premiere of new works.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,000 works premiered since founding in 2001
Companies that use International Contemporary Ensemble
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
International Contemporary Ensemble technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
International Contemporary Ensemble partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and regular.
- Yamaha Artist Services New YorkcoreYamaha Artist Services New York is the exclusive piano provider for the International Contemporary Ensemble. The Ensemble is also a proud Yamaha Artist.
- PS21corePS21 (Performance Spaces For the 21st Century) collaborates with the Ensemble on the Cheswatyr Incubator project, including the world premiere of Jessie Cox's 'Listen to the Cry of the World' at Pavilion Theater.
- Cheswatyr FoundationcoreThe Cheswatyr Foundation collaborates with PS21 and the Ensemble on the Cheswatyr Incubator initiative, supporting development and premiere of new works.
- Earle Brown Music Foundation Charitable TrustcoreProduces and presents the TIME:SPANS festival dedicated to twenty-first century music. The Ensemble regularly performs at this festival.
- MacDowellmajorAmerica's oldest artist residency program. Jointly presents concerts and conversations with the Ensemble. MacDowell has awarded residencies to over 16,000 artists since 1907.
- Luna Composition LabcoreThe Ensemble serves as Luna Composition Lab's Ensemble in Residence, premiering works by young female, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming composers. Partnership spans multiple years.
- The Walden SchoolmajorThe Ensemble serves as Ensemble-in-Residence at The Walden School's Young Musicians Program and Creative Musicians Retreat in Dublin, New Hampshire.
- Columbia ComposersregularOngoing partnership with Columbia University's student-run organization dedicated to showcasing works by doctoral composition students.
- Webern Ensemble Neue Musik (MDW)regularCollaboration with the Webern Ensemble of Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien for concerts at Wien Modern festival celebrating George Lewis's legacy.
- Civic Orchestra of ChicagoregularThe Ensemble serves as artistic advisor for Chicago Civic Fellows, culminating in contemporary chamber music concerts.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
International Contemporary Ensemble competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bang on a Can: Another leading U.S. new-music presenting and commissioning organization (Marathon, Summer Festival, Asphalt Orchestra) operating as a nonprofit with comparable mission, scale, and donor-driven model.
- Ensemble Signal: New York-based contemporary music ensemble focused on performing and recording works by living composers with major foundation and university partnerships, directly comparable in scope and programming.
- Alarm Will Sound: Twenty-member contemporary chamber ensemble with a similar commissioning, recording, and touring profile and comparable donor and university relationships.
- Eighth Blackbird: Chicago-based contemporary chamber ensemble with a parallel mission of commissioning, premiering, and recording new works, plus comparable educational residency activity.
- Kronos Quartet: Preeminent contemporary string quartet with a similarly large commissioned-work catalog, global touring schedule, and nonprofit funding base — the most direct stylistic and structural peer to ICE.
Emerging players
- American Composers Forum: National nonprofit supporting living composers and new music, with overlapping commissioning, performance, and capacity-building programs but a broader membership and convening role.
Broad incumbents
- Miller Theatre at Columbia University: Columbia-affiliated contemporary music presenter (Composer Portraits series) with directly overlapping new-mission programming and shared artistic community.
- Carnegie Hall: Premier U.S. classical music venue and presenting organization that engages ICE as a tenant performer; a broader incumbent with overlapping programming and donor relationships but venue-operator model.
- Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: Established chamber music presenter with comparable residency, education, and subscription models, though focused on canonical rather than contemporary repertoire.
Regional players
- Ensemble Modern: Frankfurt-based contemporary music ensemble of comparable scale, commissioning activity, and global touring profile — a non-U.S. structural peer with similar artistic mission.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
International Contemporary Ensemble social profiles
Digital presenceInternational Contemporary Ensemble financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
International Contemporary Ensemble leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
International Contemporary Ensemble funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
International Contemporary Ensemble M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about International Contemporary Ensemble
What does International Contemporary Ensemble do?
The International Contemporary Ensemble is a nonprofit performing arts collective that commissions, develops, and premieres new works by living composers through live concert performances. It supplements performances with educational residencies at universities and conservatories, professional development programs for emerging artists, and recordings of contemporary classical repertoire. Revenue is generated through ticket sales, foundation and government grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations.
Is International Contemporary Ensemble a public or private company?
International Contemporary Ensemble is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was International Contemporary Ensemble founded?
International Contemporary Ensemble was founded in 2001. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is International Contemporary Ensemble based?
International Contemporary Ensemble is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does International Contemporary Ensemble make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Corporate Grants, public Funding and ticket Sales and Event Revenue.
Who are International Contemporary Ensemble's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bang on a Can, Ensemble Signal, Alarm Will Sound, Eighth Blackbird and Kronos Quartet. American Composers Forum is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Miller Theatre at Columbia University, Carnegie Hall and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Ensemble Modern is listed as a regional player.
Does International Contemporary Ensemble have an API?
No public API is recorded for International Contemporary Ensemble.
What industry is International Contemporary Ensemble in?
International Contemporary Ensemble's product category is Performing Arts Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMANAC, Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir), with a secondary code of MPAIALAD, Custom Music & Original Score/Composition. Its NAICS code is 711130.