Australia Ensemble

{{Short description|Australian chamber group}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}

{{Infobox orchestra

| name = Australia Ensemble UNSW

| type = Chamber ensemble

| image =

| former_name = Australia Ensemble

| founded = {{nowrap|1980}}

| website = {{URL|https://www.music.unsw.edu.au/australia-ensemble-unsw}}

}}

Australia Ensemble UNSW is an Australian chamber group active since 1980.

The group was founded in 1980 as the University of New South Wales Ensemble after a proposal put to the University of New South Wales by musicologist Roger Covell and clarinettist Murray Khouri, then colleagues at the University.{{Cite web|title=Australia Ensemble, a Rich Musical History|url=https://www.sydneymozartsociety.com.au/news/australia-emsemble-and-unsw,-a-rich-music-history|access-date=2021-10-03|website=www.sydneymozartsociety.com.au}} Its current Artistic Chair is Paul Stanhope who took over from Covell in 2014.{{Cite web|title=Paul Stanhope : Represented Artist Profile : Australian Music Centre|url=https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/artist/stanhope-paul|access-date=2021-10-03|website=www.australianmusiccentre.com.au}} In October 1983 the University of New South Wales Ensemble was renamed the Australia Ensemble, Resident at the University of New South Wales.{{Cite web|url=https://www.recordkeeping.unsw.edu.au/historicalresources/onlineexhibitions/unitimelineexhibition/1980s.html#1983|title = 1980s | Records & Archives – UNSW Sydney}}

Since that time it has occupied a prominent position in Australian music, frequently touring in addition to a Sydney-based concert series. International performances have taken the ensemble to the USA, the UK, the then Soviet Union, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, China, India, South America, South Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand. The Ensemble collaborates with major Australian and international performers, and frequently performs new works by Australian composers.{{Cite web|title=Australia Ensemble UNSW {{!}} Music Performance|url=https://www.music.unsw.edu.au/australia-ensemble-unsw|access-date=2021-04-15|website=www.music.unsw.edu.au}}