Artists

Collaboration is at the core of Metropolis Ensemble.

We’re on a mission to empower artists, expand their opportunities to create together, and inspire new audiences. We often invest in multi-year relationships with our artists, commissioning and presenting a variety of work so they can grow and evolve their style and help launch a sustainable career.

Our Founder

The catalyst behind the music.

Meet Andrew Cyr, the Grammy-nominated conductor, producer, and artistic director who founded Metropolis Ensemble in 2006. He works alongside our performers, composers, and partners to leverage their talents and help them accomplish ambitious ideas.

  • A champion of new work, Grammy-nominated conductor Andrew Cyr has led premiere performances at venues ranging from Cité de la Musique (Paris, FR), The Met Museum, Celebrate Brooklyn(!), New Victory Theatre, Hamer Hall (Melbourne, AU), Radio City Music Hall, BAM’s Next Wave, and The Tonight Show. 

    Cyr's work as conductor has been described by Esa-Pekka Salonen as "...precise, rhythmically incisive and fluid. He made complex new pieces sound natural and organic.”

    Described as a “prominent influence in the world of newly emerging music” (Washington Post), Cyr’s passion for creating new platforms for outstanding composers and performing artists led him to found Metropolis Ensemble in 2006.

Living breathing composers with a perspective for today.

At the heart of every Metropolis project, living composers are the primary source of inspiration. We bring together emerging talented composers through the development, commissioning, and presentation of new works.

Many of our composers go on in their careers to receive major awards, take on commissions from world-class organizations, and produce the future of music in its kaleidoscope of forms.

  • “It’s wonderful to bring together my favorite musicians to share a meaningful sonic practice. Everyone deserves to hear strange, beautiful music that brightens our days and expands our horizons.”

    Zekkereya El-magharbel, trombone

  • “Metropolis provided an avenue for collaborative musical exploration, all while providing free accessible music for my community.”

    Alfredo Colón, saxophone and composer

  • “Performing alongside Metropolis Ensemble and Sandbox Percussion was a gift; the pinnacle musical experience of my year. A truly powerful moment in time.”

    Erik Hall, piano and composer

  • “I enjoy Metropolis' openness, curiosity, and adventurousness in programming and bringing artists and audiences together. This group excites while it investigates how we make music together.”

    Paula Matthusen, composer

  • “This series allowed an opportunity for my peers and I to share our love for improvised music with people outside of our own communities.”

    Priya Carlberg

One artist community, beautifully diverse in every way.

No two Metropolis projects are the same combination of artists, and that’s by design. We thrive by tapping into the energy of our artist collective, both with a core group of key collaborators, and the larger body of performers that reflect a myriad of perspectives and talents.

Metropolis takes a unique approach to each project: empowering our performers and composers as co-producers — from start to finish — in collaboration with world-class partners and venues.

We have a unique methodology to our curatorial process at Metropolis. Our artists, world-class partners, and iconic venues are key collaborators every step of the way.

  • Step 1: Ideation

    At the start of each project, we connect with our artists to explore the possibilities of creating new musical experiences, ambitious and highly-technical studio recordings, and innovative accessible digital installations. No idea is too wild.

  • Step 2: Commission

    As the project idea takes hold, we often commissions new works with our composers and musicians, providing the financial, technical and logistical support from the early planning stages until project completion.

  • Step 3: Development

    Before it’s ready for primetime, Metropolis gathers independent expert musicians to shape the development of our multidisciplinary projects. Every work requires a different combination of needs: full orchestra, chamber ensembles, soloists, or everywhere in-between.

  • Step 4: Presentation

    At last, Metropolis is ready to inspire new audiences, inviting them to take a leap with us into the surprising, thrilling, and unexpected worlds of contemporary music… whether that’s a concert experience, studio recording, or digital installation.

Our artist alumni were amazing at Metropolis, and went onto something more.

  • Soprano Kiera Duffy performs with a veritable who’s-who of the classical world, including world premiere works by fellow Metropolis alumni Mohammed Fairouz.

  • Since 2015, violinist Frank Huang has served as concertmaster at the New York Philharmonic after collaborating on multiple early Metropolis concerts and recordings.

  • Violinist and artistic director Kristin Lee founded Emerald City Music in 2015 to bring eclectic, intimate, and contemporary concert experiences to the Pacific Northwest.

  • Avi Avital received the first Grammy for mandolin soloist on Metropolis’ debut album and has since skyrocketed to global superstar, commissioning over 100 works for mandolin.

  • Pulitzer and Grammy winning composer Caroline Shaw has written for iconic artists across the spectrum: from Yo-Yo Ma and Roomful of Teeth to Nas and Metropolis.

  • Clarinetist Mark Dover has received Grammy wins and nominations as both performer and producer for Imani Winds including works by fellow Metropolis alumni, Andy Akiho.

  • Danielle Khulleman plays horn with Seattle Symphony and pop-classical sensation Genghis Barbie, featured on America’s Got Talent, HBO, and Carnegie Hall.

  • Violinist Andrew Wan is concertmaster at Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and has recorded Grammy-nominated and Juno, Felix and Opus award-winning releases.

  • Grace Park is an acclaimed soloist and winner of the Naumburg International Violin Competition. She recorded her 2025 debut album with Prague Philharmonia.

Bring beauty into the world with us!

Your support creates opportunities, launches careers, and brings bold new music to life. Thank you for making it possible.