Named after and headquartered at the acclaimed New York City venue Le Poisson Rouge, Ensemble LPR is an assemblage of New York’s finest musicians. The group personifies the venue’s commitment to aesthetic diversity and artistic excellence.
 
Ensemble LPR performs an eclectic spectrum of music—from works by the finest living composers, to compelling interpretations of the standard repertoire—and collaborates with distinguished artists from classical and non-classical backgrounds: Timo Andres, Simone Dinnerstein, San Fermin, Daniel Hope, Taka Kigawa, Jennifer Koh, Mica Levi, David Longstreth (of Dirty Projectors), John Lurie, Ursula Oppens, Max Richter, André de Ridder, Christopher Rountree and Fred Sherry, to name a few.
 
In January 2015 Ensemble LPR made its Deutsche Grammophon debut with Follow, Poet, featuring the music of Mohammed Fairouz and the words of Seamus Heaney and John F. Kennedy. Ensemble LPR’s acclaimed Central Park performance last June, part of the 110th Anniversary of the Naumburg Orchestral Concerts.
 
In 2008 Le Poisson Rouge changed the classical music landscape, creating a new environment in which to experience art music. In doing so, Le Poisson Rouge expanded classical music listenership. The New York Times has heralded Le Poisson Rouge as “[a] forward-thinking venue that seeks to showcase disparate musical styles under one roof” and “[the] coolest place to hear contemporary music.” The Los Angeles Times raves, “[The] place isn’t merely cool…the venue is a downright musical marvel.” Le Poisson Rouge Co-Founder David Handler brings this same ethos to Ensemble LPR, of which he is Founding Executive & Artistic Director.
 
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Vasko Dukovski, is a New York based multidisciplinary artist and diverse stylistic performer of the highest caliber, one of the most-sought-after instrumentalist in his generation. Even though classically trained, Dukovski sees no boundaries in music and musical styles, but embraces all of it. An avid performer and advocate of Avant-garde Free Style and Contemporary classical music, Dukovski has collaborated with some of New York’s most respected ensembles including Argento New Music Ensemble, Bang on A Can All Stars, Either/OR Ensemble, Talea Ensemble, Wet Ink, ECCE-East Coast Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble Pamplemousse, Lost Dog Ensemble, LPR Ensemble, The Knights Orchestra and others. In addition of being a front man of his world music quartet Tavche Gravche, he is a member and a co-founder of Grneta Ensemble.

Dukovski’s musical sophistication spans the continents, appearing in Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Austria, Lebanon, Morocco, Brazil, Tunisia, extensively in China and throughout the United States and on a regular basis in New York City.

A nominee of the 2013 “Virtuosi” Award Ceremony in his native Macedonia, Dukovski is a Winner of the 2010 Arriaga Chamber Music Competition with Grneta Ensemble; III Prize Winner of the Andreas Makris Clarinet Competition in Fort Collins, Colorado; Special Prize Winner of the 2002 Jeunnese Musicales Clarinet Competition in Bucharest, Romania; Winner of the 2001 International Woodwind Competition in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; 2003 Eubie Blake Honors Award recipient; and a II Prize Winner of the 2002 National Chamber Music Competition and 1996 National Clarinet Competition, both in his native Macedonia.

Dukovski’s TV and Radio appearances began from an early age at his town’s local TV and Radio stations and since then he has appeared on WQXR-NPR, The Jack Prize Radio Show, TRT (Turkey) , Brazilian National TV Station, Tunisian National TV Station, China’s National TV Station and Tian Jin TV Station.

Dukovski has recorded for Naxos – American Classics, Albany Records, Sono Luminus – Dorian, Tzadik, Chicken Madness, In a Circle Records, Evolver Records, Furious Artisans, INNOVA Recordings and Parma Recordings.

Born in Ohrid, in the Republic of Macedonia, Dukovski began playing with sound at age five and started his musical education at the age of eight. His dedication to music and the clarinet earned him a Fine Arts Award from the Interlochen Arts Academy, which he attended before earning a Bachelors and a Masters Degree from The Juilliard Schools of Music as a student of Charles Neidich and Ayako Oshima.