Education program

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Recent and ongoing educational
collaborations include:
Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM)
Opera Queensland
Lisa Gasteen National Opera Program
Brisbane Festival
Queensland Music Festival
University of Queensland
Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University
4MBS Classic FM
Queensland Youth Orchestras

The Ensemble Q Education program is proudly sponsored
​by Di Jameson OAM & Frank Mercurio and Philip Bacon AO.

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​Ensemble Q members are the highest level performers and established mentors in their fields and come with a wealth of experience and diverse practice in engagement of students with chamber music and Australian music. Ensemble Q core members include university Professors, Associate Professors, Heads of department and Lecturers, so they are more than well equipped to provide extraordinary experiences for the next generation. 

Ensemble Q’s mentorship program has given hundreds of young musicians the opportunity to play alongside the very best musicians in Australia, through direct engagement in chamber music, the creation of side-by-side orchestras and in special events such as Queensland Music Trails Opera at Jimbour. Ensemble Q is
committed to the future of Australian music by creating significant learning opportunities for talented young musicians.

NEW INITIATIVE IN 2025 - MINI Q!
As a pilot program for 2025, four exceptionally talented 12 year old students are being given the opportunity to form a string quartet that will receive intensive school holiday workshops across the year with Ensemble Q members. The
quartet will learn fundamental chamber music techniques, effective rehearsal and communication methods, an expanding knowledge of repertoire and will feature in
selected Ensemble Q performances.
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This program is made possible by the generous support of
Di Jameson & Frank Mercurio

"My name is David Shaw, and I am a flautist and pianist currently living in Orange, NSW. I was fortunate enough to be asked to be mentored to participate in Paul Dean and Trish O’Brien’s ensemble program, Ensemble Q in Brisbane a few weeks ago, and thought it was one of the most fabulous, wonderful professional opportunities I have been involved with. I was able to play some truly wonder chamber music repertoire, not only a work by Paul Dean himself, which was amazing to work directly with the composer on, but also Mahler’s 4th symphony. That work, in chamber music form, placed a great deal more pressure on individual parts, but it was fantastic to see everyone more than capable of rising to the challenge, compounded even more-so without a conductor. To participate in that challenge really led me to further hone and develop my own chamber music skills. The calibre of musician that I was privileged to work with was also a standout feature of the weekend. Of the 15 musicians required for the Mahler, 12 were professionals with long careers and standing within Australia and internationally. The wind quintet, made up of several of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra principals, Paul Dean and myself, made me quite aware of the level that I was fortunate to play with. It has been a long-held aim of mine to regularly play with musicians far greater in skill and experience than me, and I certainly had my fill, and my work cut out for me here. The rehearsals, the performance, the repertoire and above all the people were all truly wonderful and made my experience one I will treasure for many years to come. If I were to be offered another project, I would once again jump at the chance to play with such amazing musicians, and I would strongly urge anyone who is given their opportunity to take it as well. There are precious few opportunities for emerging professionals to make contacts, play in wonderful venues and work with other leading artists in this country, and Ensemble Q fills that incredibly important void." 
David Shaw

Click here to read about violinist Johnny van Gend's Ensemble Q mentorship experience in Cut Common magazine