As well as frequent Australian tours, the Sydney-based Australian Chamber Orchestra often tours Asia, Europe and the US, including regular performances at London's Wigmore Hall, New York City's Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, Vienna's Musikverein and Washington's Kennedy Center.[2] The ACO is the only frequently touring Australian musical ensemble internationally.[3]
In 2014 an album of the orchestra, featuring the American soprano Dawn Upshaw as soloist, won three Grammy Awards.[4] The orchestra appears in the films Musical Renegades[5] and Musica Surfica[6] and the television series Classical Destinations series two.[7]
In 2005, ACO Collective, a second ensemble combining emerging artists and Australian Chamber Orchestra musicians was formed as a training and regional touring orchestra.[8]
The ACO musicians perform on a collection of ten Golden Age string instruments, including three Stradivarius violins.[9] Richard Tognetti performs on a 1743 Guarneri del Gesù violin,[10] on loan from an anonymous benefactor. Principal violin Satu Vänskä performs on the 1726 Belgiorno Stradivarius on loan from Guido and Michelle Belgiorno-Nettis,[11] Principal cello Timo-Veikko Valve performs on a 1616 Amati cello on loan from the ACO Instrument Fund[12] and principal violin Helena Rathbone plays a 1732 Stradivarius violin on loan from an anonymous benefactor.[13]
The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.
