Explore new facets of your artistry and improvisation through ensemble rehearsal and performance. With ensembles recast each semester, one semester you might be playing in the Electric Miles Davis directed by a musician like Adam Holzman, who played with
Miles in the 1980s. The next semester you might play in the Studio Orchestra, collaborating with Mannes School of Music performers in our largest ensemble, directed by a legendary musician like Ingrid and Christine Jensen or Darcy James Argue.
In addition to more than eighty established ensembles, you can create your own — choose the type of music you want to make, the musicians you want to play with, and the directors you want as your mentors.
Make Your Ensemble
Each semester, you will participate in an improv ensemble. Ensembles recast each semester, allowing you to choose the type of music you want to make, the musicians you want to play with, and the directors you want as your mentors.
Elective Ensembles
Make any of our fifty elective ensembles your own. Elective ensembles include:
- Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra
- Americana Ensemble
- Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Ensemble
- Brazilian Drum Ensemble
- Brazilian Ensemble
- Carnival Caravan Ensemble
- Charles Mingus Ensemble
- Charlie Parker Ensemble
- Chick Corea Ensemble
- Electric Miles Davis Ensemble
- Gospel Chorus
- Guitar Duos
- Herbie Hancock Ensemble
- Indian Ensemble
- John Coltrane Ensemble
- John Zorn's Cobra Ensemble
- Live Electronica Orchestra
- New York City Composers Ensemble
- Ornette Coleman Ensemble
- Progressive Rock Ensemble
- R & B Ensemble
- Sonny Rollins Ensemble
- Standards Ensemble
- Sun Ra Orchestra
- Super Trios
- Thelonious Monk Ensemble
- The New School Studio Orchestra
- Vocal Blues Ensemble
- Wayne Shorter Ensemble