Direction Générale de la Création Artistique

Specialists in the contemporary repertoire, but also of great classic works from the Modern period during the 20th century, the students (DAI, diploma of artist interpret) from this newly created program receive high-level technical instruction and a musical education broad enough to let them address the current state of performance in even its most diverse dimensions. As soloists, in small chamber groups, or in an ensemble, these musicians also have access to the mixed-music repertoire, making them true players of current creation.

The International Ensemble Modern Academy was founded in 2003 as the logical extension of everything the Ensemble Modern (EM) stands for and is able to offer a variety of training programmes designed to promote artistic discourse between highly qualified young musicians and renowned personalities from the arts world. One of the core training programmes is a one-year Master's programme in contemporary music which was launched in 2006 in cooperation with the University of Music and Performing Arts Frankfurt am Main (HfMDK) and now attracts strong international interest. Thanks to funding from the German Federal Cultural Foundation, the Kunststiftung NRW and the Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain, 19 young artists (instrumentalists, conductors, composers, and sound directors) are able to work for an entire year with the members of the Ensemble Modern on the diverse repertoire of modern music. Cooperation with institutes such as the Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe and the Institute for Applied Theatre Studies Giessen provides the opportunity for interdisciplinary projects. Famous composers and conductors are also regularly invited to participate, including Friedrich Cerha, Peter Eötvös, Heinz Holliger, Helmut Lachenmann, Wolfgang Rihm and Hans Zender. The results of this work are presented in over 20 concerts each year in Germany and abroad.

Since 1947, CIEE (Council on International Education Exchange) has been in pursuit of its mission, "to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world." Since 1973, and in keeping with this mission, the Paris Center for Critical Studies through CIEE has welcomed American students interested in critical thinking around media, literature, the arts, politics and society with its partners Paris 3, Paris Diderot, the Collège International de Philosophie, and now the IRCAM.