Clemens Leske Piano
David Rowden Clarinet
Alexandra Osborne Violin
Paul Stender Cello
Founded in 2005, Omega Ensemble is one of Australia’s foremost chamber music ensembles.
The Ensemble’s vision, to provide a home stage for Australian musical excellence, is primarily realised through the National Touring Program, with thrilling musical experiences presented annually in metropolitan and regional cities, as well as frequent invitations to national cultural festivals. The Ensemble has toured to China twice, and maintains a growing digital presence to connect with an engaged international audience.
At the heart of the Ensemble’s success is the talent it supports, presenting extraordinary Australian musical talent through the powerful artform of chamber music, where musicians stand as equals while showcasing their individual virtuosity. From displays of superior technical prowess to raw emotional intensity, the Ensemble aims to create lasting connections with its audience, and engage in contemporary storytelling that reflects a diverse Australian identity.
With a focus on supporting future generations, the Ensemble actively nurtures grassroots musical talent through in-school programs, community outreach initiatives, and the development of valued teaching and professional development resources. In particular, the Ensemble advocates for the pursuit of creative careers through its flagship CoLAB: Composer Accelerator Program, mentoring talented pre-professional composers and providing direct professional pathways.
The Ensemble stands at the forefront of musical expression, through the commissioning and collaboration with high-profile Australian and international composers. With a growing commissioning profile developed over 15 years, the Ensemble is recognised as a leading authority in presenting international and local premieres to Australian audiences.
Earning accolades as ‘one of Australia’s most forward thinking chamber music ensembles’ (Limelight), the Ensemble was appointed as Ensemble-In-Residence at City Recital Hall from 2014-16, has been nominated for multiple APRA/AMCOS Art Music Awards for Best Performance and Best New Work, and in 2019 was nominated for Artist of the Year in the Limelight Magazine Awards.
Music for now and until eternity.
French composer Olivier Messiaen’s poetic and hauntingly beautiful Quatuor pour la fin du temps (Quartet for the End of Time) remains one of the most significant and captivating works of the 20th century. In 2021, marking 80 years since its cold and dark premiere performed in a WWII concentration camp, the work’s themes of isolation, resilience, and music as a universal language, remain captivating to audiences and relevant to current world circumstances.
This important work is accompanied by a new commission by Yorta Yorta Dja Dja Wurrung composer Lou Bennett AM titled ‘Ngair-nur, ngar-kur (to hear, to see)’, along with Estonian composer Arvo Pärt’s meditative Spiegel Im Spiegel.
Pärt Spiegel Im Spiegel
Lou Bennett AM Ngair-nur, ngar-kur (to hear, to see)
Messiaen Quatuor pour la fin du temps
Format: 90 minutes no interval
Omega Ensemble are available for a range of workshops and engagement activites, including:
Throughout 2022. Please contact Musica Viva for further details.
Travel to centres in regional NSW is subsidised through the support of Create NSW. Musica Viva can book the artists, arrange all travel and accommodation, provide posters, flyers and program information.
If you are interested in bringing an ensemble to your town or city, please contact:
Sean Moloney
Manager, Special Projects & Regional Touring