Present Music

For over 45 years, Present Music has engaged artists and audiences in imaginative, provocative experiences with new music. Through a dual approach of thoughtful programming and serious fun, the ensemble makes the music of our time accessible, inviting listeners to "expect the unexpected" (Shepherd Express). A champion of living composers, Present Music has commissioned over 100 new works and boasts a discography of 18 CDs, plus over 20 live-streamed broadcasts. Their commitment to innovation has earned them ASCAP's Award for Adventurous Programming an unprecedented six times. Notably, their commission of Raven Chacon's Voiceless Mass went on to win the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Music. The ensemble's flexible roster ranges from a core of seven musicians to 20 or more, allowing for a vast diversity of repertoire. Based in Milwaukee-- a city they champion as a center for creativity-- they perform 6 to 10 concerts annually at venues ranging from the Milwaukee Art Museum to the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist to the Jan Serr Studio @ UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts. For over 25 years, Present Music’s Creation Project matches professional composers with talented high school students in a mentorship program to create new works. Beyond Wisconsin, Present Music maintains a national and global profile, with recent 2025 tours to Philadelphia to collaborate with The Crossing, the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, and recent tours to Japan, China and Turkey. Their legacy includes collaborations with luminaries such as John Adams, Caroline Shaw, David Lang, Missy Mazzoli, Daniel Kidane, and Christopher Cerrone, solidifying their role as a vital force in the contemporary music scene. The ensemble is currently led by Artistic Director Eric Segnitz and Conductor/Advisor David Bloom, following 37 years under the direction of founder Kevin Stalheim