Timothy Weiss, conductor
Donald Crockett, conductor

The Aspen Contemporary Ensemble (ACE) is in residence for the full eight-week session. This octet functions as the ensemble in collaboration with the Susan and Ford Schumann Center for Composition Studies and performs music by prominent living composers and twentieth-century classics as well as new works by the Festival’s student composers. Instrumentation is as follows: flute/piccolo/alto flute, clarinet/e-flat clarinet/bass clarinet, violin (2), viola, cello, piano, and percussion. Members of this ensemble receive weekly private lessons with artist-faculty members and may also take elective courses. All student members receive a fellowship.  

The program is rigorous and, thus, members of the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble are expected to stay focused on their core curriculum and not engage in extracurricular activities, such as concerto competitions.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY!

HOW TO APPLY 

The following ACE positions are open in 2023: Piano, Violin I, and Viola.

As of September 2022, the Flute, Clarinet, Percussion, Violin II, and Cello positions are not available in 2023. However, applicants are encouraged to submit materials for consideration in the event a position becomes available.

APPLICATION OPEN SEPTEMBER 15

Applicants who are interested in applying on their respective instrument for the Orchestra program must submit a second application and the applicable fee at the time of submission.

• Resume required
• Statement of interest in contemporary music required
• Two letters of recommendation encouraged but not required
   

 

AUDITION REPERTOIRE  

All applicants must submit the required repertoire for their instrument in INDIVIDUAL VIDEO TRACKS. 

VIOLIN

I. Required standard repertoire
One of the following sonatas:

• BACH: Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001, Adagio
• BACH: Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003, Grave
• BACH: Sonata No. 3 in C major, BWV 1005, Adagio
   

AND

II. Required contemporary repertoire
Two of the pieces listed below:

• GABRIELA LENA FRANK: Suite Mestiza (two movements of applicant’s choice) 
• AUGUSTA READ THOMAS: Pulsar  
• PIERRE BOULEZ: Anthèmes I 
• JESSIE MONTGOMERY: Rhapsody No. 1  
• DANIEL BERNARD ROUMAIN: Filter 
• ELLIOTT CARTER: 4 Lauds (any movement of applicant’s choice) 

 

VIOLA 

I. Required standard repertoire

• BACH: Two movements of a Suite for Cello or of a Sonata or Partita for Violin
   

AND

II. Required contemporary repertoire
Two of the pieces listed below:

• KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI: Cadenza for Solo Viola 
• GYÖRGY LIGETI: Sonata for Viola Solo (any movement of the candidate's choice) 
• JOAN TOWER: Wild Purple 
• SHULAMIT RAN: Perfect Storm 
• NOKUTHULA NGWENYAMA: Sonoran Storm 
• JESSIE MONTGOMERY: Rhapsody No. 2 arr. for viola

 

CELLO 

I. Required standard repertoire
Two contrasting movements from any of the six J.S. Bach Suites for Cello

AND

II. Required contemporary repertoire

Two of the pieces listed below:

• GEORGE CRUMB: Sonata for Solo Cello 
• KAIJA SAARIAHO: Sept Papillons 
• TANIA LEÓN: Four Pieces for Solo Cello 
• REBECCA SAUNDERS: Solitude 
• GEORGE LEWIS: Spinner 
• ELLIOTT CARTER: Figment I

 

FLUTE 

I. Required standard repertoire
Two contrasting movements from the following selections without repeats:

• J.S. BACH: Partita for Solo Flute in A minor, BWV 1013
• C.P.E. BACH: Sonata for Solo Flute in A minor, H. 562
   

AND

II. Required contemporary repertoire
Two of the following:

• VALERIE COLEMAN, Danza de la Mariposa 
• ALLISON LOGGINS-HULL: Homeland 
• LUCIANO BERIO: Sequenza I for Flute 
• TŌRU TAKEMITSU: Voice 
• SOFIA GUBAIDULINA: Sonatina for Solo Flute
   

AND

III. Piccolo: 

• ARNOLD SCHOENBERG:  Pierrot lunaire, Op. 21, No. 18: Der Mondfleck 
   

AND

IV. Alto Flute:

• BOULEZ: Le Marteau sans maître III L’artisanat furieux (can be found in The Alto Flute Practice Book by Trevor Wye & Patricia Morris) 

 

CLARINET

I. Two of the following works: 

• JOAN TOWER: Wings  
• LIZA LIM:  Sonorous Body 
• SHULAMIT RAN:  For an Actor 
• VIET CUONG:  Zanelle 
• KAIJA SAARIAHO: Duft 
• BRUNO MONTAVANI: Bug 
• ELLIOTT CARTER: Gra
   

AND 

II. Bass Clarinet 
Two from the following excerpts: 

• MAURICE RAVEL: Daphnis et Chloé full score of rehearsal
  number 156 to 161 
• IGOR STRAVINSKY: Le Sacre Du Printemps: Introduction Rehearsal 4-6 and Rehearsal 139–142 
• RICHARD STRAUSS: Don Quixote Rehearsal 14–19 
• DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH: Concerto No. 1 in A minor for Violin and Orchestra op. 77 Rehearsal 23–25 

 

PERCUSSION

I. IANNISXENAKIS: Rebonds B 

AND

II. Marimba
One selection from the following:

• JACOB DRUCKMAN: Reflections on the Nature of Water (marimba)
• FRANCO DONATONI: Mari (marimba)
   

AND

III. Vibraphone
One selection from the following:

• PHILIPPE MANOURY: Le livre des claviers, Mvt 4. — solo vibraphone
• PHILIPPE HUREL: Loops II for Vibraphone
• ALVIN SINGLETON: Argoru No. 4
   

PIANO 

I. Required standard repertoire
First movement of one of the following sonatas:

• BEETHOVEN: Op. 7, Op. 10 (No. 3), Op. 22, 31 (No. 1), Op. 53, Op. 57, Op. 81a, Op. 106, Op. 111
   

AND

II. Required contemporary repertoire
Two of the pieces listed below:

• GYÖRGY LIGETI: L'escalier du diable from Études, Book II 
• ELLIOTT CARTER: Caténaires 
• KAIJA SAARIAHO: Ballade 
• UNSUK CHIN: Piano Etudes (any two of the applicant’s choice) 
   

 

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