The Southern Theater Presents International Contemporary Ensemble 4/26

A "powerhouse of new music programming" (The New Yorker), ICE has established itself as one of the leading and most innovative musical ensembles in the U.S. and a champion of young composers. Its impressive Twin Cities debut at the Southern Theater last season put the wheels in motion for a longer-range partnership. In January they appear at the Southern playing the music of Nathan Davis, and return in April when members of ICE pair with three brilliant young composers to incubate new chamber music tailor-made for this Southern Theater performance: toy pianist and multimedia magician Phyllis Chen weaves light, sound, and video into an elegant package; master jazz saxophonist Steve Lehman breaks jazz harmony and rhythm into its spectral components; Minneapolis native Mario Diaz de León creates a hybrid sound that fuses the energy of metal and noise bands with acoustic instruments.

"ICElab throws open the doors on the fascinating, electric and explosive creative process between composers, performers and improvisers, inviting audiences and artists alike to share in the adventure," said Claire Chase, Executive Director of ICE. "We are thrilled to bring three dynamic ICElab composers to the Twin Cities and to share the hot-off-the-press work we have created with them through the ICElab program. With inspirations ranging from free jazz to heavy metal to spectralism to video and performance art, these artists' work knows no bounds."

The evening will also feature the culmination of a collaboration with American Composers Forum and Seward Montessori as part of ICE's Listening Room curriculum, a new educational initiative targeting public schools whose music programs have been cut in the recent recession. "ICE is delighted to bring our Listening Room curriculum to Seward Montessori," said Chase, "offering students the opportunity to create graphic scores from scratch alongside ICE musicians and ICElab composers in hands-on, ears-open workshops. We will perform two of the compositions generated from this workshop at intermission during our Southern Theater performance on April 26, and will exhibit the students' scores in the lobby."

2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats

Best Original Score - Top 3

1. The Rescues , The Rescues - The Lost Boys

34.6% of votes

2. Cinco Paul - Schmigadoon!

26.6% of votes

3. Jim Barne, Kit Buchan - Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

26.5% of votes

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