New York Rock & Roll Ensemble was formed in 1967 with the goal of combining Classical and rock music together. Michael Kamen (keyboards, oboe, English horn, synthesizer, vocals), Marty Fulterman (now known as Mark Snow) (drums, oboe) and Dorian Rudnytsky (bass guitar, cello, piano, trumpet, French horn) were students at Julliard; Brian Corrigan (rhythm guitar, vocals) and Clif Nivison (lead guitar, vocals) had gone to high school with Rudnytsky.
Their blend of psychedelic rock and legitimate Classical training brought them public attention, and they performed on numerous national television shows and with orchestras including the New York Philharmonic. The group released three albums under this name, then shortened it to New York Rock Ensemble for a further pair of albums. They disbanded in 1972, and Kamen and Snow both went on to great success in other musical endeavors.