Fifth House Ensemble and Agent Relationship (with Teacher Notes and Instructions)

Fifth House Ensemble is a Chicago-based chamber music group that has embraced collaboration and education as part of its artistic mission. Its inventive partnerships and penetrating initiatives have set it apart from other contemporary music ensembles. This case study examines the decision within Fifth House Ensemble to engage with a booking agent for some of its programming. Three examples illustrate the group’s robust artistic offerings. After parting with the one artist management company, Fifth House Ensemble re-entertains the idea of whether a new agent might enter the picture to assist with bookings for a new project with which the group had some experience—a concert version of a live video game experience.