The New School's Mannes School of Music is pleased to announce that the Mannes American Composers Ensemble (MACE) will perform on Wednesday, May 11, at The New School's Ernst C. Stiefel Concert Hall (55 West 13th Street, New York, New York). Conducted by Alan Pierson, the program will feature selections by Steve Reich, Thomas Weaver, and Caleb Burhans. True to the mission of MACE, the program exemplifies the ensemble's commitment to the work of living American composers. The concert will begin at 7:30pm. Admission is free.

Founded in 2012 by Lowell Liebermann and directed in 2015-16 by Alan Pierson, MACE presents works by iconic American masters such as John Adams, Mason Bates and Steve Reich, as well as works by young and up-and-coming composers such as David Hertzberg and Nina C. Young. The ensemble aims to embrace a broad view of the vital landscape of contemporary American Music, and to bolster that landscape through premieres and, soon, commissions.

The May 11 concert will feature Steve Reich's "City Life. City Life is a contemporary masterpiece; a work that combines live musicians with sampled urban sounds. The piece is rarely heard live. Also on the program are Mannes Alum, Thomas Weaver's "Into Focus", and Caleb Burhans' "oh ye of little faith"

Richard Kessler, Executive Dean for the College of Performing Arts and Dean of Mannes said, "With MACE, we are aiming to put the works of living composers and of American composers at the center of the practice here at Mannes. You can see this in our programming of the ensemble, which is directed this year by Alan Pierson."