The Nouvel Ensemble Contemporain (NEC) is part of the Pôle Nord association, based in the watchmaking town La Chaux-de-Fonds, located at an altitude of around 1,000 metres. Pôle Nord brings together the NEC, the CMC concert series and the biennial festival Les Amplitudes. The ensemble creates programmes combining music, dance, theatre, literature, photography, cinema, video and visual arts, and never hesitates to push the boundaries of genres by collaborating with musicians from all walks of life, from baroque to electronic and folk. In 2025, it celebrates its 30th anniversary.
The NEC performs an annual concert cycle in its region (La Chaux-de-Fonds and Neuchâtel) and is a regular guest at festivals in Switzerland and abroad.
In the 2025/26 season, NEC will premiere new works by the Swiss based composers Samuel Blaser, Romane Bouffioux, and Jeanne Larrouturou.
Samuel Blaser
Samuel Blaser is a jazz trombone player, composer and producer from Switzerland, currently based in Berlin. Raised on a rich diet of classical music, Swiss folk traditions, and jazz, he has evolved into a genre-bending artist exploring operatic grandeur, rock intensity, and blues authenticity. As a band leader he’s currently active with the Samuel Blaser Trio, the trio Triple Dip and others.
On 27 June 2026, the Nouvel Ensemble Contemporain will premier his new octet in La Chaux-de-Fonds and on 30 June 2026 the German premiere will follow in Berlin.
Romane Bouffioux
Romane Bouffioux is a percussionist, performer, and teacher based in Bern, specializing in contemporary music. She is the founder of various projects in the realms of creation, musical theatre, electroacoustic music, such as Romanesco Duo and 4tet Laboratoire. She is also a member of the renowned Eklekto Percussion Center Geneva and Insub Meta Orchestra.
On 1 November 2025, the Nouvel Ensemble Contemporain will premier her new work in Neuchâtel.
Jeanne Larrouturou
Jeanne Larrouturou is a French-born percussionist based in Switzerland. She has been active as a performer, creator, and organizer in a wide range of contemporary chamber music, object-theatre, sound performance and multidisciplinary projects. She is a member of Ensemble Batida and has recently joined Concept Store Quartet. Together with Kevin Juillerat she has co-directed the experimental sound series Fracanaüm in Lausanne, and she is a current member of the programming team of Festival Rümlingen.
On 1 November 2025, the Nouvel Ensemble Contemporain will premier her new work in Neuchâtel.
