The Ensemble Modern is a chamber ensemble dedicated to the music of modern composers. Formed in 1980 as a "democratic orchestra", the group is based in Frankfurt, Germany and made up variously of about twenty members from numerous countries, all of whom are highly acclaimed soloists and professional music teachers.

Ensemble Modern tour widely and have released many recordings, performing works by such composers as Charles Ives, Olivier Messiaen, Kurt Weill, Edgard Varese, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Conlon Nancarrow, Steve Reich, George Benjamin, Frank Zappa, Anthony Braxton, Heiner Goebbels, Roberto Carnevale, alva noto + ryuichi sakamoto and many others.

They are highly regarded for their ability to play difficult music with complex rhythms and tempi. Frank Zappa said they were the first to play his music exactly the way he intened it to sound. In 2003 the group received an ECHO award.