About the AACM

The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), a non-profit tax-exempt arts organization, co-founded in 1965 by Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams, Jodie Christian, Kelan Phil Cohran, and Steve McCall, is one of the oldest musicians associations in the United States. Since its founding in Chicago, Illinois in1965, the organization's members

have developed a body of work that encompasses the spectrum of traditional and contemporary music.

 

The AACM New York City Chapter, Inc. a non-profit tax-exempt entity was established in 1983 by Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams and AACM members who moved to New York, and functions as an ensemble of composers and performers whose mission is to present concerts that feature world premieres of original music, composed by AACM members. The AACM is

significantly unique in that it has nurtured and brought to fruition so many accomplished composers and performers. The organization’s artists have developed a body of work that has achieved lasting significance across borders of music genres and geography to play a critical role in the ever evolving process of music creation and its vital influence throughout the world.

 

AACM members who have been featured in our programs include: Anthony Braxton, Roscoe Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, Henry Threadgill, Thurman Barker, Adegoke Steve Colson, Iqua Colson, Chico Freeman, Amina Claudine Myers, George Lewis, Reggie Nicholson, Peggy Abrams, Richarda Abrams, Laroy Wallace McMillan and posthumously Dr. Muhal

Richard Abrams, Leonard E. Jones, Frank Gordon, Joseph Jarman, Leroy Jenkins, Kalaparusha Ahra Difda, Lester Bowie, Steve McCall, Fred Anderson, John Stubblefield, Alvin Fielder and Fred Hopkins.The AACM received the Chamber Music Society’s Richard J. Bogomolny National Service Award. Our members are master musician composers, artists, painters and novelists, and have received degrees and taught in major universities all over the world. Many of our members also

have honorary Doctorate degrees from prestigious universities. Our members have received numerous Lifetime Achievement Awards, we are NEA Jazz Masters, Doris Duke Artists, Mellon Foundation Awardees, Jazz Foundation of America Awardees, American Academy of Arts and Letters Members, Pulitzer Prize Winners, Guggenheim Fellows, and

MacArthur Fellows among other prestigious awards. Because of the AACM New York City Chapter, Inc. our members have gained international recognition as accomplished musicians and composers, many of whom have been invited by renowned orchestras throughout the USA and Europe to perform their music all over the world.

 

AACM NEW YORK CITY CHAPTER, INC.

Board of Directors:

Amina Claudine Myers - Acting Chair

Peggy Abrams - Administrator/Secretary

Reggie Nicholson - Treasurer

Wadada Leo Smith - Board Member

Leonard E. Jones – Webmaster (Emeritus)

​

Staff:

Amina Claudine Myers - Acting President

Peggy Abrams - Administrator/Secretary

Reggie Nicholson - Treasurer

Richarda Abrams - Director of Publicity and Advertising | Webmaster