The American Modern Ensemble is a contemporary classical music ensemble based in the United States in New York City with the goal of premiering, performing and recording and commissioning the widest possible repertoire written by American composers. The group's focus is to celebrate and showcase American music and especially works written by living composers. AME is also dedicated to education and outreach programs that expose communities to American music, and particularly to new music written by living composers. AME was founded in 2005 by American composer Robert Paterson, who serves as the ensemble's Artistic Director, and his wife, Victoria Paterson, a violinist, who also serves as the ensemble's Executive Director.

Instrumentation

Instrumentation for each concert is repertoire/instrumentation-based and is drawn from a sinfonietta-sized group: flute (doubling alto flute and piccolo), clarinet (doubling bass clarinet and E-flat clarinet), oboe (doubling English horn), bassoon (doubling contrabassoon), horn, trumpet (C trumpet, B-flat trumpet and piccolo trumpets in E-flat and D), trombone, percussion, piano (doubling synthesizer), two violins, viola, violoncello, bass.

Programmed composers

Incomplete list of composers whose works have been programmed by the American Modern Ensemble through the 2014-15 season: • John Adams • John Luther Adams • Karim Al-Zand • Dominick Argento • Milton Babbitt • Dennis Bathory-Kitsz • Jacob Bancks • Armando Bayolo • Lembit Beecher • Christopher Berg • Derek Bermel • Leonard Bernstein • Chester Biscardi • Alexandra du Bois • William Bolcom • Victoria Bond • Margaret Brouwer • Steven Burke • John Cage • Elliott Carter • George Chadwick • Theodore Chanler • Chen Yi • Paul Chihara • Aaron Copland • John Corigliano • Stuart Dempster • Chen Yi • Robert Dick • Celius Dougherty • Jacob Druckman • John Eaton • Roshanne Etezady • Stephen Foster • Gabriela Lena Frank • Vivian Fung • Annie Gosfield • Daron Hagen • David Heuser • Lee Hyla • Aaron Jay Kernis • Libby Larsen • Hannah Lash • Tom Lehrer • Lowell Liebermann • Michael Lowenstern • James Matheson • Missy Mazzoli • Eric Moe • Paul Moravec • Conlon Nancarrow • Ethelbert Nevin • Robert Paterson • Stephen Paulus • Joseph Pehrson • David Rakowski • Todd Reynolds • Peter Schickele • Elliot Schwartz • Laura Schwendinger • Alex Shapiro • Adam Silverman • William "Bill" Smith • Steven Stucky • Vineet Shende • Augusta Read Thomas • Joan Tower • Perry Townsend • David Del Tredici • George Tsontakis • Melinda Wagner • Mischa Zupko • Zhou Long • Pamela Z

Artists

Performer Members of AME as of the 2015-16 Season: • Artistic Director, House Composer and Conductor • Robert Paterson† • Guest Conductors • Tyson Deaton • Delta David Gier • Steven Mackey • David Alan Miller • Steven Osgood • Robert Wood • Flute • Sato Moughalian† • Margaret Lancaster† • Janet Axelrod • Robert Dick • Erin Lesser • Amelia Lukas • Oboe • Keve Wilson† • Sarah Schram • Mark Snyder • Clarinet • Benjamin Fingland† • Nicholas Gallas† • Michael Lowenstern • William O. Smith • Meighan Stoops • Eric Umble • Saxophone • Jeremy Justeson† • Allen Won • Javier Oviedo • French horn • Amie Margoles† • Jeff Scott • Bassoon • Charles McCracken† • Gilbert DeJean • Trombone • Stuart Dempster • Mark Broschinsky • Percussion • Matt Ward† • Robert Paterson† • Bill Solomon • Clara Warnaar • Tom Kolor • Pablo Rieppi • Peter Jarvis • Piano • Blair McMillen† • John Eaton • Stephen Gosling • Maya Hartman • Eric Huebner • Riko Higuma • Ieva Jokubaviciute • Aaron Likness • Molly Morkoski • Violin • Regi Papa† • Victoria Paterson† • Robin Zeh† • Philip Payton† • Eugenia Choi† • Curtis Macomber • Todd Reynolds • Viola • Jessica Meyer† • Orlando Wells† • Danielle Farina • Junah Chung • Hsin-Yun Huang • Cello • Dave Eggar† • Arash Amini† • Raman Ramakrishnan† • Wendy Sutter • Michael Katz • Robert Burkhart • Laura Bontrager • Eric Jacobsen • Bass • Sean McClowry† • Roger Wagner† • Guitar • Scott Kuney • Austin Moorehead • Harp • Jacqueline Kerrod† • Bridget Kibbey • Vocalists • Leah Edwards, soprano • Jacquelyn Familant, soprano • Nancy Allen Lundy, soprano • Sharon Quattrin, soprano • Melissa Wimbish, soprano • Anna Tonna, mezzo-soprano • Jesse Blumberg, tenor • Robert Frankenberry, tenor • Brandon Snook, tenor • Dimitri Pittas, tenor • Paul Sperry, tenor • Kyle Guglielmo, baritone • Robert Gardner, baritone • David Neal, bass-baritone • Pamela Z, voice • Choreographer-In-Residence • Annmaria Mazzini, Mazzini Dance Collective †Denotes current core member.

AME Composition Competition

Since 2006, AME has held an annual composition competition for American composers (North, Central and South America). Through 2011, this competition was for composers ages 18–35. Starting in 2012, awards are now given in three categories: Tier I (Young Artist), ages 22 and under; Tier II (Emerging), ages 18–35, and Tier III (Professional), all ages. Former winners from 2011 and past are now considered Tier II winners. Winners receive cash awards, archival recordings and performances of either their winning work or another work. 2014 Ninth Annual Competition Tier III Tier II Tier I 2013 Eighth Annual Competition Tier III Tier II Tier I 2012 Seventh Annual Competition Tier III Tier II Tier I Past Winners