About

Hotel Elefant is a contemporary music ensemble dedicated to the works of innovative, living composers.

Formed in 2011 by composers Leaha Maria Villarreal and Mary Kouyoumdjian, Hotel Elefant ambitiously presents new music through commissions, performances, and moderated discussions between composers, performers, and audiences. Committed to modern sounds and sonic explorations, this vibrant ensemble brings a keen awareness of today’s music to the general public and highlights those living composers who are blurring lines, pushing boundaries, and fostering creativity.

With a flexible roster of more than twenty musicians, Hotel Elefant has worked closely with such progressive composers as Robert Ashley, Michael Gordon, David T. Little, Angélica Negrón, and Chinary Ung. Past performances have included the 2013 Bang on a Can Marathon and Make Music New York; collaborations with IKTUS Percussion and The Nouveau Classical Project; and partnerships with Experiments in Opera and Opera on Tap. Hotel Elefant is proud to have been chosen by Carnegie Hall and David Lang's "New Voices, New Music" workshop, which will culminate in a premiere of a work by Mary Kouyoumdjian in Zankel Hall this fall.

The ensemble's debut sparked the interest of Alex Ross' The Rest is Noise, radio station Q2 Music, The New Yorker, and The New York Times. Of their inaugural season, the online publication I Care if You Listen raved: “Hotel Elefant seems to be carving out their own niche, combining style, versatility, and quality of performance. They are well on their way to becoming a resounding force in the new music world."