The orchestra sounds better than ever, clearly in the front rank of American ensembles.

The orchestra, like other major American ensembles, uses blind auditions but retains an almost completely white face.

It won't be easy to book the American and international ensembles that regularly visit the hall for two- or three-concert series, especially on weekends.

She has had works commissioned from several Latin American ensembles.

No conductor; this American ensemble does not use one.

But the largely American ensemble here handles the alien accents with surprising zest.

African American ensembles did not use the word jazz consistently until the 1920s.

More than 600 American and Canadian ensembles submitted proposals for this year's festival.

All told, the rehearsal ran four hours, well beyond anything major American ensembles are required, or contractually permitted, to undertake on tour.

It is the "first American ensemble known to have performed on period instruments".