The Philip Glass Ensemble is an American chamber group founded by composer Philip Glass in New York City in 1968, originally as a laboratory for developing the performance practice his minimalist compositions demanded. Its distinctive sound - amplified woodwinds, keyboard synthesizers, and solo soprano voice - helped define the language of musical minimalism, and the group remains the authoritative interpreter of Glass's work under longtime music director Michael Riesman, who joined in 1974.
Philip Glass celebrated his 90th birthday with a worldwide series of performances and events, including the Philip Glass Ensemble performing Early Works at the Luminato Festival in Toronto on June 20, 2026.
Philip Glass withdrew his Symphony No. 15 'Lincoln' from the Kennedy Center, citing a conflict between the institution's current values and the message of the work.
The Philip Glass Ensemble is scheduled to perform Glassworks at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen on September 20, 2026.
The Philip Glass Ensemble performed a program of early works at McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ on November 22, 2025.
The Philip Glass Ensemble performed the full Koyaanisqatsi score live at Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver on January 31, 2026.
