Founded in 2005, the Xanthos Ensemble brought to its inaugural season a fresh, inspirational, and high quality emphasis on the performance of contemporary chamber music to new audiences. The New York Times has raved about the "virtuoso players" of the ensemble as "copiously skilled and confident" in the face of "undeniably challenging music." From 2008-2011, the ensemble joined in a collaboration with Boston University, and performed their season concerts presented by the Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Music Department of Composition and Theory. Beginning with their 2010-2011 season, they were pleased to welcome composer Geoffrey Gordon as Composer-in-Residence. In the 2008 season, New York composer Daniel Felsenfeld joined the ensemble as Composer-in-Residence. From 2006 to 2008, they served as Ensemble in Residence at Boston Conservatory. Through a combination of internationally recognized repertoire and world premieres of works dedicated to the ensemble, the major focus of the ensemble's mission is to bring new music to life, written for the ensemble in collaboration with living composers, and to that aim they have premiered dozens of works and have had several newly composed works dedicated to them since the group's inception. Their 2007-2008 season included an appearance at the Boston Conservatory New Music Festival, featuring works by European 50’s and 60’s avant-garde composers. Their 2006-2007 season included a national Composition Competition for Young Composers sponsored by the Boston-based collective Composers in Red Sneakers, including a New York City debut, a collaboration with the Berklee Alumni Composers Consortium, and an appearance as featured guest artists for the University of Toledo's 30th Annual 2007 Spring Festival of New Music.
The Xanthos Ensemble is dedicated to the promotion of contemporary chamber music, through the exposure of new music repertoire to new audiences in the Boston area, throughout the country, and abroad. Its mission has grown from the belief that the inspiration and knowledge of contemporary music in the community at large will increase the awareness and educational benefits of new music for our musical culture, and for our society as a whole. The focus of the Xanthos Ensemble is on the commissioning of new works and the presentation of performances of existing, internationally recognized repertoire to new audiences for contemporary music. Through the introduction of the elements of contemporary music to new audiences, the Xanthos Ensemble also has as its long-range mission an educational strategy that will bring to the community an outgrowth of new interest in not only contemporary music, but also chamber music. This educational strategy will impart to the young listener a new appreciation for artistic and cultural values, with music as the educational language. Through outreach performances and education, the Xanthos Ensemble hopes to bring the language of music and all of its cultural beauty to new audiences who will benefit from exposure to live performances of contemporary chamber music.
The ensemble is frequently in collaboration with composers at colleges and universities, and is available for guest workshops and concert appearances throughout the country.
The Xanthos Ensemble depends upon the generosity of audience members, friends, and its supporters to continue bringing contemporary music alive in the community. The Xanthos Ensemble is a non-profit tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization, and all contributions to the organization are fully deductible to the extent allowed by law.
If you are interested in becoming a donor to the Xanthos Ensemble, please contact the group either through email on this website, clicking on our Support button, or write to:
Xanthos Ensemble
12 Dana Terrace #2
Watertown, MA 02472
Your support in the form of a private donation is greatly appreciated.
