Virtuosic & Curious Instrumentalists
About Us
Ensemble Offspring
Sydney’s musical mavericks Ensemble Offspring unite the most innovative instrumentalists in Australia with a broad collective of collaborators to explore new ideas through living new music. Led by acclaimed percussionist Claire Edwardes OAM, the ensemble comprises a core line-up of some of Australia’s most well-regarded and virtuosic musicians: Lamorna Nightingale (flute), Jason Noble (clarinet), Véronique Serret (violin), Blair Harris (cello) and Benjamin Kopp (piano). Together we champion living composers and create musical experiences that stimulate the senses and pique curiosity. We support emerging and as-yet-unheard composers, in particular championing Australian female-identifying and First Nations artists.
Our Community
Our varied collaborations stretch artistic horizons and advance the ever-expanding landscape of new music. Since 2014 our Hatched Academy program has nurtured the next generation of Australian musicians and composers, while our First Nations Composer Program has fostered the careers of Indigenous musicians since 2017. For over a decade our annual Sizzle festival has transformed local and regional bowling clubs, garnering a cult following along the way. Recent partnerships include Ensemble Adapter (Berlin), International Contemporary Ensemble (New York), Sydney Chamber Opera (Sydney) and Stroma Ensemble (New Zealand).
Our Highlights
We have 26 years of innovative new music-making behind us and the astounding journey we have taken from a student group (originally named the Spring Ensemble) to the internationally-esteemed ensemble we are today. In 2021 we were awarded the NSW State Luminary Art Music Award for our 25-year contribution and in 2019 we received the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Group Award. Also in 2019 we were selected to showcase at the international music market, Classical:NEXT (Rotterdam), and were nominated for our first ARIA Award in the Best Children’s Album category. In 2016, we won the APRA Art Music Award for Excellence by an Organisation. Our recent tours have taken us as far afield as Amsterdam, Berlin, Glasgow, Hong Kong and Shanghai, and we feature regularly at Tasmania’s Mona Foma Festival and Sydney Festival. Committed to subverting the classical music tradition with experiential concerts of living new music that transcend genre, place and art form, Ensemble Offspring are navigating the future with open mindedness, flexibility and joy – we invite you to join us on our adventures ahead.
Musicians
Musicians
Claire Edwardes OAM
Artistic Director / Percussion
Internationally acclaimed percussion soloist and artistic director of Ensemble Offspring, Claire Edwardes OAM has been described by the press as a ‘sorceress of percussion’. Claire won the Young Performers Award in 1999, and completed her Masters degree at the Rotterdam and Amsterdam Conservatories. She is the only Australian to win three APRA Art Music Awards …
More
Jason Noble
Clarinet
Jason Noble is one of Australia’s most adaptable clarinettists, spanning the classical to experimental and improvisatory genres. A core member of Ensemble Offspring for over 20 years, Jason has performed at contemporary music festivals from Warsaw to London and throughout Australia. His album releases THRUM (2020) and Chi’s Cakewalk (2017) feature new Australian clarinet work …
More
Lamorna Nightingale
Flute
Lamorna Nightingale is a flautist, concert presenter, educator and publisher. Her transformative contribution to new Australian music spans many recordings, unique concerts curated through BackStage Music, and pedagogical volumes published via her company Fluteworthy. Lamorna joined Ensemble Offspring in 2007 and in 2016 she performed with early music ensemble Brugge Anima Eterna at Sydney Festival …
More
Véronique Serret
Violin
Véronique is a super versatile violinist, vocalist and composer whose repertoire ranges from contemporary art music to folk, rock and improvisation. She is known for her inclusive sound world and her original work on the 6 string violin blended with vocals. Véronique has been a member of Ensemble Offspring since the very first concert back …
More
Blair Harris
Cello
Blair Harris is a highly regarded Melbourne-based solo cellist and chamber musician, known particularly for his strikingly individual interpretations and innovative collaborative projects. He has commissioned many solos by Australian composers including by Jack Symonds, Alice Humphries and Paul Dean. Blair has been a member of Ensemble Offspring since 2016. He performs regularly as a …
More
Benjamin Kopp
Piano
Pianist Benjamin Kopp has performed as soloist with the major Australian orchestras, including the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and WASO. In 2007 he was the winner of the keyboard section of the Symphony Australia Young Performer’s Awards. He has been a member of Ensemble Offspring since 2019. Benjamin co-founded the Streeton Trio and …
MoreBoard
Chief Executive Officer, TAD
Anthony is Chief Executive Officer at TAD, Vice President of TAD Australia, and Convenor of Actuaries Institute’s Public Policy Council Committee. He was formerly Chief Executive Officer at Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, co-lead of the National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Prostate Cancer Survivorship, and Adjunct Associate Professor at Griffith University. Prior to joining Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Anthony was Chief Operating Officer at the National Breast Cancer Foundation. He has held senior executive positions in the financial services industry in Australia, the US and UK, ultimately becoming Executive Director and Asia-Pacific business group leader at Mercer Wealth Solutions.
Executive Manager, Musica Viva Australia
Trish has spent over 30 years in arts management in Australia, first as CountryWide and Export Manager at Musica Viva, then as Relationship Manager in the Major Performing Arts division at the Australia Council for the Arts. She is now enjoying her second placement at Musica Viva. She has sat on the Board of the Australian Youth Orchestra, served as Chair at Arts on Tour and on the Board of Governors of the Federation of Asian Cultural Promotion. At Musica Viva from 1983-2002 she was also responsible for curating and implementing the Cultural Relations Program for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) internationally.
Associate Professor, Universal Business School Sydney
Wayne is an Associate Professor at the Universal Business School Sydney and brings his wealth of experience in accounting, teaching and business in a number of national and international companies over a commercial career spanning over forty years. His senior finance positions include National Finance Director for Ernst & Young and Finance Director for the Bank of New Zealand in Australia. Wayne has experience across many industries including manufacturing, services, logistics and teaching. Wayne is a qualified CPA, a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders and was a graduate member of the Australian Institutes of Company Directors.
Managing Director, OCT Emissions Solutions
CEO Anglicare Community Services
Simon was recently appointed as the CEO of Anglicare, moving on from his previous role as Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group. He founded and now leads BCG’s AI and advanced analytics business ‘GAMMA’ across the Asia-Pacific. He has deep experience in government, having held executive roles with both the Australian and NSW Governments. Simon serves as Chair of Mission Australia Housing and as a non-executive director at Mission Australia and Trinity Grammar School.
Artistic Director
Claire Edwardes OAM has been the sole Artistic Director of Ensemble Offspring for 7 years and previously was co-director with composer Damien Ricketson for almost 10 years. She has over 25 years experience as a professional percussionist and is acknowledged as a long-term leader in Australia’s musical landscape. Having built her career on the development of innovative projects and programs, Claire has presented and produced music at many levels of the Australian and international music scenes. She is the only Australian to win the APRA Art Music Award for Excellence by an Individual three times and is a committed advocate of gender equity in music.
Clarinettist
Jason Noble is one of Australia’s most versatile clarinettists, spanning the classical to highly experimental and improvisatory genres. As a core member of Ensemble Offspring for 20 years, Jason has performed contemporary new music at festivals from Warsaw to London, Shanghai to Kabul and around Australia, working largely with living composers. His album releases include THRUM (2020) and Chi’s Cakewalk (2017). Jason collaborates with emerging composers, and is an in-demand music educator and examiner. He has been invited to teach two winter academies at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, and maintains links with staff and students there.
Dr. Anthony Lowe
Chair
Trish Ludgate
Deputy Chair
Wayne Smithson
Treasurer
Marni Oaten
Regular Member
Simon Miller
Regular Member
Claire Edwardes
Regular Member
Jason Noble
Regular Member
Patron
Shane Simpson AM
Special Counsel, Simpson Solicitors
Shane Simpson AM is a chairman of Studio A and a director of the UNSW Foundation. He is also on the Council of the National Library of Australia and is the independent director on several private foundations. Shane Simpson was the founder of the Arts Law Centre of Australia and the Prelude Project (a national network of composer houses). He is Special Counsel at Simpsons Solicitors, a firm specialising in the arts, entertainment, cultural property and copyright. He was formerly chair of the Bundanon Trust; Advisory Council of the Faculty of Art + Design, UNSW; The Aboriginal Benefits Foundation; the NSW Film and Television Office and Museums and Galleries NSW and a non-executive director on numerous boards in the cultural industries including the Australian Maritime Museum the New Zealand Film Commission, the Australian National Academy of Music, the National Association for the Visual Arts, the Crafts Council of Australia, the Music Council of Australia and the Copyright Agency. He is the author of many books including the classic, ‘Music Business’.
Staff
