Ensemble Françaix is thrilled to share with listeners the joy of mixed ensemble collaboration, inspired by the wit and vibrancy of the 20th-century neoclassical French composer Jean Françaix. The Melbourne-based group was founded in 2016 by oboist Emmanuel Cassimatis (MSO, MCO), bassoonist Matthew Kneale (MSO, TSO, OV, Arcadia Winds) and pianist Nicholas Young (Finalist ABC Young Performers Awards 2011), who together form the ensemble’s core as a ’double-reeded’ piano trio. The ensemble incorporates further emerging and established Australian performers as guest artists according to the instrumental needs of each concert program, crafting unique sound palettes for each recital experience that especially celebrate the neglected virtuosity and versatility of woodwinds.

Following the success of their first concert at South Melbourne Town Hall in August 2016, Ensemble Françaix made its international debut in 2017 at the 9th Osaka International Chamber Music Festa and presented its first recital series in Melbourne as Fellows of the Australian National Academy of Music, performing classics by Françaix and Poulenc alongside Mussorgsky, Grainger, Stanhope, Greenbaum, Previn and Andriessen, and premiering newly commissioned compositions by Peter de Jager, Natalie Wong, Katia Beaugeais and Hakan Ulus. Bourgeoning interest in the ensemble’s non-standard instrumentation has inspired further new works from numerous Australian composers including Ben Hoadley, Chris Healey, Calogero Panvino and Brad Taylor-Newling, to be premiered in 2018 and 2019. In fulfilment of Matthew Kneale’s activities as winner of the Freedman Classical Fellowship, Ensemble Françaix looks forward to showcasing the fruits of their collaboration internationally with planned tours in 2019 to Europe and the United States.