New Music In Aspen
The Aspen Music Festival and School is known for its dedication to new music; in fact, nearly 200 world and U.S. premieres have been presented at the AMFS.

Aspen's commitment to contemporary music began at the inception of the AMFS with featured composer Igor Stravinsky. In 1951, Darius Milhaud founded the Conference on Contemporary Music, bringing celebrated composers-in-residence to Aspen for performances of their works and to give seminars on contemporary music.

Notable composition alumni include William Bolcom, Carlisle Floyd, David Lang, Peter Schickele, Bright Sheng, Morton Subotnick, Augusta Read Thomas, and Joan Tower.

The Aspen Contemporary Ensemble (ACE) is in residence for the full eight-week session. The septet functions as the ensemble for the Susan and Ford Schumann Center for Composition Studies and reads music written by student composers. Instrumentation is as follows: flute/piccolo/ alto flute, clarinet/E-flat clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, and percussion.

The ensemble also participates in many contemporary music performances with the artist-faculty of the AMFS. Members of this ensemble receive private weekly lessons with artist-faculty members and may also take elective courses. For a full course listing, please click here.

All ensemble members accepted will receive a fellowship. For more information on fellowships, click here.

How to Apply to the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble Summer 2010:

Individual applicants
Individual applications for the summer of 2010 will only be accepted in the area of cello.

All items to be submitted together. All materials, including recordings, will not be returned.

• Due date: November 13, 2009 (Apply early for discounted application fee.)
• All items to be submitted together:
  • Current resume
  • Statement (paragraph) about your interest in contemporary music
    
  • Two copies of a CD, approximately fifteen minutes in length, demonstrating a proficiency in contemporary music
• Be sure all items on the Application Checklist have been completed.

In addition to the above requirements, students are strongly encouraged but not required to send two letters of recommendation, which may be used in the scholarship process.