ACME: the American Contemporary Music Ensemble

"Young, new-music machines: flawless urban sophisticates at their finest."
- San Francisco Classical Voice

“One of New York’s brightest new music indie-bands”
- Time Out New York

Led by artistic director and cellist Clarice Jensen, the American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME) is dedicated to the outstanding performance of masterworks from the 20th and 21st centuries, primarily the work of American composers. The ensemble aims to present cutting-edge contemporary literature by living composers alongside the “classics” of the contemporary.

Known for their work with the Wordless Music Series as well as indie music icons such as Grizzly Bear, ACME’s dedication to cutting-edge contemporary literature extends across genres, and has earned them a reputation among both classical and rock crowds. ACME has performed at (Le) Poisson Rouge, Carnegie Hall, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Tenri Cultural Institute, the Noguchi Museum, the Whitney Museum, the Guggenheim Museum, the Flea Theater, and Columbia University's Miller Theatre, among others.

ACME's instrumentation is flexible, and includes some of New York's most sought-after, engaging musicians. Current core ACME members include violist Nadia Sirota, composer/violinist Caleb Burhans, cellist and artistic director Clarice Jensen, and composer/pianist Timo Andres.