Sound Icon is a sinfonietta committed to performing the most significant progressive 

works of the past few decades.  As a sinfonietta, Sound Icon offers the color palette 

of a full orchestra with the precision and flexibility of a chamber ensemble. The 

technical and logistical challenges of contemporary repertoire for sinfonietta often 

discourage live performance in the United States, however, Sound Icon embraces 

this music and aims to bring this repertoire to Boston and beyond. 

Through ambitious programming performed to the highest standards, Sound Icon 

engages audiences in dialogues about what progressive music is and can be: music 

that redefines rules, experiences, and expectations.

Led by conductor and artistic director Jeffrey Means, Sound Icon has quickly 

become established as a leading artistic force in Boston, performing challenging, 

cutting-edge contemporary repertoire for sinfonietta that is rarely heard live in Boston 

and the United States.  Sound Icon has worked with prominent composers such as 

Philippe Leroux and Salvatore Sciarrino and performed works by Gérard Grisey, 

Helmut Lachenmann, Beat Furrer, Wolfgang Rihm, Salvatore Sciarrino, Georg 

Friedrich Haas, Fausto Romitelli and many others. Founded in spring 2011, Sound 

Icon has since established relationships with local cultural institutions such as the 

Boston University Center for New Music, the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston, 

and Northeastern University, creating cross-institutional collaborations that support 

truly exciting events. In spring 2013, Sound Icon was featured as the Fromm Players 

at Harvard, and has been involved with other local concert series and presenters. In 

addition to live concert events, Sound Icon frequently holds workshops with young 

composers and instrumentalists as part of collaborative academic residencies. 

Sound Icon’s mission is to perform significant progressive repertoire for sinfonietta 

and to advocate ambitious music in Boston and beyond. 

Sound Icon is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.