Crash Ensemble

Crash Ensemble is Ireland’s leading new music ensemble; a group of world-class musicians who play the most adventurous, groundbreaking music of today. Led by cellist and Artistic Director, Kate Ellis and Principal Conductor, Ryan McAdams, the ensemble commissions, explores, investigates and experiments with a broad spectrum of music creators and artistic collaborators. It also puts community at the centre of its mission, and enjoys creating experiences—exploring new ways of presenting music and taking audiences on new adventures.

Many well-known artists from diverse musical backgrounds have performed with the ensemble, including Terry Riley, Gavin Friday, Dawn Upshaw, Diamanda La Berge Dramm, Laurie Anderson, Lisa Hannigan, Íarla Ó Lionáird, Bryce Dessner, Richard Reed Parry, Sam Amidon and Beth Orton.

As well as performing throughout Ireland, Crash regularly performs internationally, with appearances in the last few years at the Edinburgh International Festival, the Royal Opera House, the Barbican, Carnegie Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Tech, GAIDA Festival and residencies at The Huddersfield Contemporary Music festival and Princeton University.

The ensemble’s music is available on their own label, Crash Records, and they have recordings on Nonesuch, Cantaloupe, NMC, Ergodos and Bedroom Community labels.