ABOUT TAK:

Regarded as “one of the most prominent ensembles in the United States practicing truly experimental music” (I Care If You Listen), TAK delivers energetic performances "that combine crystalline clarity with the disorienting turbulence of a sonic vortex” (The WIRE), and “impresses with the organicity of their sound, their dynamism and virtuosity” (New Sounds, WQXR). 

TAK is a mixed-quintet committed to musical exploration and experimentation and dedicated to commissioning new works and direct collaboration with composers and other artists. They have premiered hundreds of works to date since its founding in 2013. Recent highlighted collaborations include large-scale works by Eric Wubbels, Michelle Lou, Brandon López, Tyshawn Sorey, and Weston Olencki. The group has performed internationally at IntACT Festival (Thailand), Music Current Festival (Ireland), Cluster Festival (Canada), Harpa Concert Hall (Iceland), and the Delian Academy (Greece), among many others, and enjoys an active schedule of domestic touring in the U.S.

The quintet has released seven albums to critical acclaim; recent records have been described as “sublime art… a masterpiece,” (AnEarful), and “one of the most distinct and eclectic releases of the year” (I Care If You Listen). Their recorded output fosters a “deep sense of connection and communication” (Bandcamp Daily), and features collaborations with Mario Diaz de Leon, Taylor Brook, Erin Gee, Brandon López, Ann Cleare, Tyshawn Sorey, Seth Cluett, Natacha Diels, Scott L. Miller, David Bird, and Ashkan Behzadi. Their most recent release, Love, Crystal and Stone, brought together composer Ashkan Behzadi, scholar Saharnaz Samaienejad, painter Mehrdad Jafari, and design-house Sonnenzimmer to fuse poetry, visual art, original essays, and music into an experience-based hybrid publication. The ensemble’s 2019 album Oor launched their in-house media label, TAK editions, that aims to support recorded musical endeavors from across the experimental music communities, highlighting direct conversations with artists through the TAK editions Podcast. Recent TAK editions releases have included those of Ensemble Interactivo de La Habana, Ensemble Pamplemousse, Nina Dante + Bethany Younge, and several of TAK’s own recordings. 

Deeply committed to educational collaborations, TAK has conducted residencies at dozens of higher educational institutions including Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Princeton, Cornell, University of Chicago, and many others. The ensemble has also collaborated with younger musicians and composers at the Walden School, the New York Philharmonic’s Very Young Composers Program, and Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program. TAK served as the Long-term Visiting Ensemble in Residence at University of Pennsylvania from 2022-23. 

TAK is: Laura Cocks, flute; Madison Greenstone, clarinet; Charlotte Mundy, voice; Marina Kifferstein, violin; Ellery Trafford, percussion. 

P  R  O  G  R  A  M  S

For more information on our projects, please visit: takensemble.com/projects

E  D U  C  A  T  I  O  N   /   W  O  R  K  S  H  O  P S

TAK is dedicated to working with student composers, and has collaborated with several composition programs to workshop, premiere, and record new works by composition students in addition to teaching workshops, performing readings, conducting masterclasses and coachings, and giving lectures.

We have several educational offerings as independent events or in conjunction with public performances:

•Workshops and masterclasses for composers, performers, and the musically-curious

•Residencies with universities to showcase student composers and build their bodies of work 

• Classes and seminars in performance practice, applied critical theory, music theory, and various musicological topics

•Seminars on entrepreneurship, professional development, and music business

•Custom-made programs to match institution-specific needs

TAK has been in residence at: Boston University (2025, 2018) Peabody Conservatory (2025), New York University (2025, 2016), The Graduate Center (2025), University of Florida (2025), University of Chicago (2024), University of Huddersfield (2023-24), Princeton University (2023-24), University of Southern California (2023), Cornell University (2023, 2019), University of Pennsylvania (2022-23, 2019), Wesleyan University (2021), Harvard University (2021), Columbia University (Graduate: 2020, 2017, 2014& Undergraduate: 2022, 2017, 2015), University of Pittsburgh (2020), Oberlin Conservatory (2020, 2014), Delian Academy of Music (2019), Saint Cloud State University (2019), Stanford University (2019), University of New Orleans (2017),

Additionally TAK was the Visiting Long-term Ensemble In Residence at University of Pennsylvania in 2022-23. The quintet has collaborated with young composers and performers at The Walden School Young Musicians Program, Juilliard Music Advancement Program, and New York Philharmonic Very Young Composers.

P  R  E  S  S

"One of the city’s most fearless contemporary ensembles, known for rigorous experimentation and technical precision"
— The New York Times 

“As one of the most prominent ensembles in the United States practicing truly experimental music, TAK’s command of the performance theatrics necessary in this genre shines …one of the most distinct and eclectic releases of the year.”

— I Care if You Listen

“OK, I have to say, Star Maker Fragments is a big coup de cœur for me at the start of this year. On this album, Taylor Brook‘s composition is masterfully interpreted by her and TAK Ensemble. You start the album a regular human on planet Earth, but you find yourselves among a strange alien species, and end up a conscious, living star before exploding into multiverses. The journey is unique and wonderful; it’s best experienced with your full attention.”

— Can This Even be Called Music

“TAK ensemble just goes for it. They make their music as free as the subject matter it is based on..”

- Vital Weekly

“21st century chamber music that combines crystalline clarity with the disorienting turbulence of a sonic vortex.”

- WIRE Magazine

"My first encounter with TAK Ensemble quite literally took my breath away. This intrepid quintet...impresses with the organicity of their sound, their dynamism and virtuosity — and, well, just a dash of IDGAF as they slay the thorniest material like it’s nothing.... As titillating and irresistible a band as we have on the new music scene today."

- WQXR, New Sounds

For more press, please visit TAKensemble.com/press

V I D E O   &   R  E C O R  D I N G

PREMIERED REPERTOIRE

TAK has premiered 220 works to date.

˚ denotes commission

P  H  O  T  O  G  R  A  P  H  S

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