Ars Nova Copenhagen was founded in 1979 and is widely recognized as one of the world's finest vocal ensembles. The ensemble's chief conductor and artistic director since 2003 is the acclaimed British conductor Paul Hillier. Ars Nova has also worked with a.o. Bo Holten, Tamas Veto (both former chief conductors), Kaspars Putnins, Andrew Lawrence-King, Anthony Rooley, Kees Boeke, Michael Bojesenand Soren Kinch Hansen (all of whom have appeared as guest conductors). The ensemble specializes in the interpretation of the polyphonic choral music of the renaissance and new vocal music. Ars Nova is also building collaborations with creative artists in different fields such as drama, film, and ballet, as well as cultivating new modes of concert performance and innovative repertoire. The group's performances are marked with precision and nerve and with a sound that attracts attention worldwide. Ars Nova has recorded a large number of CD's winning numerous awards, including a Grammy for The Little Match Girl Passion with music by David Lang (Harmonia Mundi). The most recent is First Drop – a recital CD featuring music by Howard Skempton, Michael Gordon, David Lang, Kevin Volans, Pablo Ortiz, Louis Andriessen, Gabriel Jackson, Steve Reich and Terry Riley. The group has also recorded CD's with music by Arvo Pärt, Bent Sørensen, Per Norgaard, Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen, Ib Nørholm, Carl Nielsen, Niels Gade, Heinrich Schütz, William Byrd, Thomas Tallis, John Taverner and many more