named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Digitice Archive
Online platform hosting documentation of performances, collaborations, and sound creations from the past 19 years
Mount Tremper Arts Residency
Artist residency program supporting the development of radical new work, in collaboration with composers and performers over a 10-year period
Radical Pairings
Curated performance series juxtaposing works by different composers to highlight sonic curiosity and emotional resilience
TUES@7 Series
Weekly virtual concert and discussion series featuring ICE members and collaborators, showcasing world premieres, works-in-progress, and archival reflections
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Commissioning New Musical Works 1 activity
- Commissioning and premiering new musical worksCommissions and develops new musical works by living composers, resulting in the premiere of over 1,000 pieces, including major works such as Du Yun's Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Angel’s Bone and projects supported through programs like icelab and direct commissions.
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Artist Support Grants 1 activity
- Funding commissions for early-career artistsFunds commissions for early-career artists from New York City or Minnesota through a grant program supported by the Jerome Foundation, enabling the creation of new works performed by Ensemble musicians.
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Professional Conference & Symposium Organization 1 activity
- Hosting collaborative forums and events on thematic artistic topicsOrganizes and hosts thematic events such as the Afro-Diasporic Opera Forum, a three-day gathering co-led with partner organizations and scholars to reflect on and celebrate operatic works within the Afro-diasporic tradition.
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Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
- Operating Ensemble Evolution training programRuns Ensemble Evolution, a tuition-free annual summer program for early-career performers and composer-performers to train and collaborate with professional musicians and guest artists, including workshops and alumni programming.
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Digital Music and Performance Archiving 1 activity
- Operating digital archives and virtual engagement platformsManages Digitice, a digital archive with over 750 high-definition videos of performances and workshops, and operates TUES@7, a virtual series featuring rebroadcasts and discussions to engage global audiences and document artistic processes.
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
- Presenting contemporary music performances and festivalsOrganizes and presents performances and festivals, including the TIME:SPANS festival and world premieres at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Roulette, featuring works by composers like Tyshawn Sorey, Jennie C. Jones, and Nicole Mitchell.
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Nonprofit Music Recording and Distribution 1 activity
- Producing and distributing recorded albums of new musicRecords and releases albums featuring performances of contemporary composers, with over 30 albums released including works by George Lewis, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Missy Mazzoli, and Steve Reich, distributed through commercial and collaborative channels.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$1.22M
Contributions & grants$910K75%
Program service revenue$271K22%
Investment income$19K2%
Other revenue$17K
expenses
Total expenses$1.68M
Program expenses74%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$717K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.23M
Cash$473K
Investments$0
Liabilities$294K
Net assets$940K
Liquid reserves3.4 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -15.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 7
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JENNIFER KESSLER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $130K |
| JENNI BOWMAN | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER | 40 | $113K |
| JOSHUA RUBIN | TRUSTEE | 1 | $39K |
| REBEKAH HELLER | TRUSTEE AND ENSEMBLE MEMBER | 1 | $37K |
| GEORGE LEWIS | ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | 16 | $36K |
| FAY VICTOR | TRUSTEE | 1 | $13K |
| NUIKO WADDEN | TRUSTEE | 1 | $3K |
board members · 15
- ANDREW BIRSH — TRUSTEE
- BARBARA GUNDLACH — TRUSTEE
- CHIWONISO KAITANO — TRUSTEE (THROUGH 1/2024)
- CLAUDE ARPELS — CO-PRESIDENT
- DAN KURUNA — TRUSTEE
- DAVID BYRD MARROW — TRUSTEE (THROUGH 10/2023)
- DU YUN — TRUSTEE
- KATINKA KLEIJN — TRUSTEE (THROUGH 10/2023)
- MARCOS BALTER — TRUSTEE
- OSCAR GERARDO — SECRETARY
- REBECCA GIVAN — SECRETARY
- SAYIDDAH MCCREE — CO-PRESIDENT
- SONYA IMBER — TRUSTEE
- WHIT BERNARD — TREASURER
- WILLIAM MCDANIEL — TRUSTEE
relationships · 28
Who they work with
- Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Funder — Lead supporter of the Openice initiative, enabling free public access to new music programming.
- Board of Directors Government — Provides leadership and governance for the organization.
- Civic Orchestra of Chicago Partner — Collaborating ensemble in the performance of Nicole Mitchell’s _Inescapable Spiral Remote_.
- Claire Chase Partner — Artist Emeritus formerly with the ensemble
- Earle Brown Music Foundation Charitable Trust Partner — Produces and presents the TIME:SPANS festival, at which ICE performs.
- Fay Victor Partner — Sound artist, composer, and educator collaborating with the ensemble
- FringeArts Partner — Co-hosted the Afro-Diasporic Opera Forum with the International Contemporary Ensemble and Oper Omaha.
- Jerome Foundation Funder — Provides leadership support for commissions awarded to early-career artists from New York City or Minnesota.
- Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival Partner — Presenting partner for performances.
- Matana Roberts Partner — Artist Emeritus and mixed media composer collaborating with the ensemble
- Metropolitan Museum of Art Partner — Co-presents performances by the International Contemporary Ensemble.
- Miller Theatre Partner — Presenting partner for performances.
- Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago Partner — Presenting partner for performances.
- Nokia Bell Labs Experiments in Art and Technology Partner — Ensemble in Residence partnership supporting experimental artistic projects.
- Oper Omaha Partner — Co-hosted the Afro-Diasporic Opera Forum with the International Contemporary Ensemble and FringeArts.
- Roulette Partner — Hosts performances by the International Contemporary Ensemble.
- Roulette Partner — Presenting partner for performances.
- Steven Schick Partner — Artist-in-Residence collaborating with the ensemble
- TIME:SPANS Festival Partner — Presenting partner for performances.
- The Crossing Partner — Collaborated on the album "Seven Responses".
- The New School Partner — Co-presents Ensemble Evolution and collaborates on programming, curriculum, and performance opportunities.
- The New School’s College of Performing Arts Partner — Partner in the Ensemble Evolution program supporting student composers.
- The New School’s College of Performing Arts (CoPA) Partner — Partnership to deliver Ensemble Evolution, a tuition-free summer training program for early-career musicians.
- Vimbayi Kaziboni Partner — Artist-in-Residence and conductor collaborating with the ensemble
- Yamaha Partner — Collaborates with Yamaha, recognized as a Yamaha Artist.
- Yamaha Artist Services New York Government — Exclusive piano provider for the International Contemporary Ensemble.
- Yamaha Artist Services New York Partner — Exclusive piano provider for the Ensemble.
- Yamaha Artist Services New York Partner — Exclusive piano provider for the International Contemporary Ensemble
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Artist- and Composer-Centered Creation with Democratic Governancemethodology: artist_centered_innovationBy centering composers and performing artists in the creation, curation, and governance of new music, the organization advances innovation in contemporary music because it ensures authentic artistic leadership, fosters inclusive collaboration, and challenges systemic exclusion in classical music. This is achieved through rotating artist committees, open commissioning practices, and shared decision-making structures.
- Equity-Centered Organizational Transformation and Inclusive Collaborationmethodology: equity_centered_transformationBy transforming organizational structures and commissioning practices to center underrepresented voices—particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color—the organization counters systemic exclusion in classical music and expands the musical ecosystem because equitable access to creation and performance opportunities produces more diverse, resonant, and innovative artistic outcomes.
- Free and Accessible Programming to Expand Audience Engagementmethodology: community_access_through_free_programmingBy offering free performances, open workshops, and digital access through live streaming and archiving, the organization lowers barriers to entry for underrepresented audiences because removing financial and spatial obstacles demystifies contemporary music and fosters broader public engagement and inclusion.