The BIT20 Ensemble was formed in 1989, born out of a necessity to boost the contemporary music scene in Bergen and Norway. It rapidly became a spearhead both nationally and internationally. The BIT20 Ensemble consists of 16 regular musicians, several of whom hold principal or assistant principal positions in the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Not only does the ensemble function simply as a group of musicians on stage, but they also work on outreach projects as both performers and mentors. An additional goal for BIT20 is to expand on the traditional idea of the concert form, by taking in and cultivating its audience and helping them find their way into this complex and challenging art form, regardless of age and background.