Virtuosic & Curious Instrumentalists
About Us
Ensemble Offspring
Ensemble Offspring are Australia’s leading new music group, standing at the forefront of musical innovation. Led by internationally acclaimed percussionist Claire Edwardes OAM, the ensemble unites the country’s most fearless and virtuosic instrumentalists. Together, they create “visceral, joyous music” (Sydney Morning Herald) through kaleidoscopically varied performances that blaze a trail for Australian music.
At the heart of Ensemble Offspring’s mission is an unwavering commitment to the creation and dissemination of living new music. Since forming in 1995, they have commissioned and premiered over 350 new works, solidifying their position as the foremost champions of contemporary music in Australia. In particular, they actively promote underrepresented voices including female-identifying, First Nations, and emerging artists. This dedication has earned the ensemble the 2022 Classical:NEXT Innovation Award, the 2019 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Group Award, multiple APRA Art Music Awards and a 2019 ARIA Award nomination.
Ensemble Offspring’s annual development programs are an essential pillar of Australia’s musical ecosystem. Hatched Academy is an incubator for emerging Australian artists which nurtures the next generation of cultural leaders through a composer intensive, individual mentorships, and an associate artist position; the Noisy Women Commission amplifies the voice of an exceptional female-identifying or non-binary composer; and the First Nations Composer in Residence and Ngarra-Burria: First Peoples Composers programs elevate the music of Indigenous artists, foregrounding their rich cultural perspectives.
By boldly subverting classical traditions, Ensemble Offspring deliver concerts that “burst with imagination, energy and inspiration” (Seesaw Magazine). Through their pioneering spirit, pursuit of excellence and relentless commitment to equality, the ensemble continue to shape a vibrant and diverse future for Australian music.
Musicians
Musicians
Board
Non-Executive Director and Actuary
Anthony is a Non-Executive Director and Chair 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.
CEO, Anglicare Sydney
Simon is the CEO of Anglicare Sydney, where he leads a large not-for-profit with more than 4000 staff serving people in need. He also has extensive not-for-profit Board and public sector executive experience. From these roles, he brings deep governance, strategy, finance and fundraising skills to Ensemble Offspring. Prior to Anglicare, Simon was a Senior Partner and Managing Director at Boston Consulting Group, leading the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence and Analytics business. At BCG, he advised executives at some of the world’s largest companies and governments on digital, strategy, M&A, innovation and organisation. He’s also a (very average) flute player and (enthusiastic) supporter of the arts!
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 Institute of Company Directors.
Partner, Climate & Sustainability, Deloitte
CEO and 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.
Director of Production & Events, Sydney Opera House
Hannah is the Director, Production & Events at the Sydney Opera House. She has more than 25 years’ experience across the arts, talent management, digital marketing, and production and stage management fields. From 2015 to 2021 Hannah was General Manager at Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and her earlier roles have included Group General Manager at talent management company, Artist & Entertainment Group, General Manager at web and digital marketing agency, The Web Showroom. Prior to emigrating to Australia, Hannah spent 10 years working in stage and technical production management roles in the UK, including London’s West End. Hannah was a non-executive director of Sydney Philharmonia Choirs from 2011 to 2015 and was a member of the Create NSW Artform Advisory board for Classical Music, Opera and Choral until 2022.
Jenny Bisset has four decades of experience in the arts sector spanning arts policy and funding program management for State and Federal Government, leading the highly awarded Blacktown Arts for 14 years, as Head of Arts Programs at Bundanon Trust and Business Development Manager for Shopfront Arts. She has previously held positions as Chair of Urban Theatre Projects’ board, an inaugural Director of the Westwords board, and member of Museums and Galleries NSW Board.
Dr. Anthony Lowe
Chair
Simon Miller
Deputy Chair
Wayne Smithson
Treasurer
Marni Oaten
Regular Member
Claire Edwardes
Regular Member
Jason Noble
Regular Member
Hannah Mason
Regular Member
Jenny Bisset
Regular Member
Ensemble Offspring 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

