The newest addition to Juilliard’s roster of performing ensembles is AXIOM, which was formed by student initiative in 2005. This new chamber ensemble is dedicated to performing the masterworks of the 20th-century repertoire. AXIOM is comprised of a flexible roster of current Juilliard students and recent graduates who, in addition to performing, assist in the organizational and administrative needs of the ensemble. In February, 2006, James Conlon conducted the ensemble’s debut performance in Avery Fisher Hall featuring the music of Schoenberg and Debussy. AXIOM was the featured instrumental ensemble for the Alice Tully Vocal Arts Debut Recital, performing Luciano Berio’s Folk Songs with Soprano Sarah Wolfson and the world premiere of Josef Bardanashvili’s Three Scenes with Soprano Raquela Sheeran.

In addition, for two seasons the AXIOM Ensemble has been selected to collaborate with the world-renowned Juilliard Dance Division as part of their “Spring Dances at Juilliard” performances, featuring Bohuslav Martinu’s Field Mass and David Lang’s Increase and This Was Written By Hand in March 2007, and Copland’s Appalachian Spring, Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder, and Dello Joio’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Meditations on Ecclesiastes in March 2008. The ensemble joined forces with the Juilliard Music Technology Center in April 2007 as part of the annual “Beyond the Machine” concert series in Lincoln Center’s Clark Studio Theater, performing Ed Bilous’ Lucid Dreams and the world premiere of John King’s Trilogic Unity. AXIOM was the featured ensemble for Miller Theatre’s celebration of Elliott Carter’s 99th birthday in December 2007, performing selections from his chamber music repertoire and the New York stage premiere of his opera What Next? These performances were selected by Time Out New York magazine as one of top 10 classical music events of 2007.

American conductor Jeffrey Milarsky is highly acclaimed worldwide for his impeccable musicianship, exhilarating presence and innovative programming. His wide ranging repertoire, which spans from Bach to Xenakis, has brought him to lead such accomplished groups as the American Composers Orchestra, MET Chamber Ensemble, The Milwaukee Symphony, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, New York New Music Ensemble, Manhattan Sinfonietta, Speculum Musicae, Cygnus Ensemble, Fromm Players at Harvard University, and the New York Philharmonic chamber music series. In the United States and abroad, he has premiered and recorded works by groundbreaking contemporary composers, including Charles Wuorinen, Fred Lerdahl, Milton Babbitt, Elliott Carter, Gerard Grisey, Jonathan Dawe, Tristan Murail, Ralph Shapey, Luigi Nono, Mario Davidovsky and Wolfgang Rihm.