Business Details
11 Years
experience
Your Gateway to Contemporary Music Innovation
Founded in 2015, Access Contemporary Music (ACM) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering musical creativity through education, performance, and digital innovation. Our mission centers on bringing contemporary music to life through diverse programming, including award-winning podcasts, immersive festivals, and community-driven educational initiatives. With a focus on living composers and interdisciplinary collaborations, we produce concerts and digital media projects that bridge artistic disciplines and geographic boundaries. Our ACM School of Music provides instruction in musical creativity to students of all ages across Chicago and virtually, emphasizing both technical fundamentals and creative expression.Through festivals like Thirsty Ears and Sound of Silent Film, we create platforms for emerging artists while maintaining a global perspective through partnerships in New York, Milwaukee, and Mexico City. Our commitment to commissioning new works ensures a dynamic repertoire that reflects contemporary voices, supported by a network of talented musicians and educators. Transparency in operations and community engagement remain core to our approach, with volunteer opportunities and public events designed to democratize access to contemporary music experiences.
Services
Music Education
Festivals
Concerts
Digital Media Projects
Podcast Production
Details
- Year established: 2015
Highlights and features
- We commission dozens of living composers annually across multiple cities
- Our festivals integrate music with film, technology, and public spaces
- We teach musical creativity to students aged 4 through adult
- Our Relevant Tones podcast explores contemporary classical music globally
- We maintain partnerships in New York, Mexico City, and Milwaukee
Services
Music Education
Our School of Music teaches creativity-focused instruction in piano, guitar, violin, and voice to students aged 4 through adult. Classes emphasize both technical fundamentals and artistic expression across three Chicago locations and virtual platforms. With over 300 students annually, our programs nurture musical innovation while maintaining rigorous technical training standards.
Festival Production
We produce interdisciplinary festivals like Thirsty Ears and Sound of Silent Film featuring contemporary compositions. These events integrate music with technology, film, and public spaces, creating immersive experiences across multiple cities. Our festivals showcase commissioned works by living composers while fostering community engagement through interactive installations and collaborative performances.
Digital Media Projects
Our digital initiatives include the Relevant Tones podcast exploring contemporary classical music and the Songs About Buildings and Moods series. These projects extend our reach globally through innovative storytelling formats, combining music with technology to create accessible, engaging content for diverse audiences across digital platforms.
Composer Commissions
We commission dozens of living composers annually to create works for festivals, concerts, and digital projects. This program supports artistic innovation by providing resources for experimental compositions, ensuring representation of diverse voices while maintaining high artistic standards through our selection process and collaborative development.
Community Collaborations
Our collaborative projects like Composer Alive and Sonic Walkabout combine music with other disciplines through partnerships with filmmakers, technologists, and visual artists. These initiatives create unique audience experiences while expanding contemporary music's role in public spaces and interdisciplinary contexts.
Questions
What is Access Contemporary Music's primary mission?
We advance musical creativity through education, performance, and digital innovation, focusing on contemporary composers and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Where are ACM's programs available?
Our programs operate in Chicago, New York, Milwaukee, Mexico City, and through virtual platforms globally.
How can I participate in ACM's festivals?
Festival participation details are available on our website, including volunteer opportunities and event tickets.
Does ACM offer music education for children?
Yes, our School of Music provides creativity-focused instruction for students aged 4 through adult.
How are donations used by ACM?
Contributions support commissioning new works, producing festivals, and maintaining educational programs.
What digital content does ACM produce?
We produce the Relevant Tones podcast and Songs About Buildings and Moods digital series exploring contemporary music.
Videos
Reviews (4)
Robert Sabala
May 12, 2022
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We differed from our daughters teacher about the direction of her instruction and decided that we didn't want to continue lessons. We requested a refund for the remainder of the month and never heard back. No one said anything - not "sorry to see you go" or even an acknowledgment of our request for a partial refund.
Dreski DaGoat
Mar 14, 2022
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I love the school the staff is so nice. The school is a also a lovely school and they keep the school clean and really care for there students Keep up the great work
Steven Calderwood
Mar 10, 2022
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From my first interaction with ACM in 2016, the school has been nothing short of impressive when it comes to communication, acceptance, instructor skill, and meeting you were where you are at.
Zelda Hessler
Apr 20, 2021
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I have been taking adult piano lessons for about 1 years now with Christy Bennett with my only prior experience being from a few years of Flute in childhood. Christy has been a wonderful teacher and has helped me greatly improve my piano skills (way more than I would have thought I could do in such a short amount of time) and has also encouraged me to compose and present two pieces which I'm very proud of. I don't think I could have asked for a better teacher and I look forward to many more lessons with her.
