The Gaudier Ensemble is a group of outstanding European musicians who come together to perform and record the chamber music repertoire for wind, strings and piano, bringing with them an international outlook and style. Its members have distinguished themselves as soloists, chamber musicians, and orchestral principals now working with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, English Chamber Orchestra, The Philharmonia and Nordeutsche Rundfunk orchestra. A two year residency at Kettle's Yard in the University of Cambridge enabled them to develop their repertoire and establish their distinctive musical identity, before going on to forge an international concert and recording career. In June 1989 the Gaudier Ensemble made their London debut at the Wigmore Hall and Anthony Payne of the Independent, concluded that theirs was 'chamber music playing of the very highest order'. In 1990, their recording of the Schubert Octet was recommended as first choice by David Murray on the BBC Radio 3 feature Building a Library, and subsequently featured as a Record of the Week by both the BBC World Service and the Sunday Times. Their growing reputation was confirmed by Andrew Clements of the 'Financial Times' who placed them firmly 'in the first rank of chamber groups', and in 1993 their recording of the Beethoven Septet and Sextet was hailed as 'first rate on all counts' by Gramophone. The Gaudier Ensemble's regular tours include appearances in major concert halls and festivals throughout Europe. In the UK these have included the Cheltenham and Edinburgh International Festivals , the Wigmore Hall, and BBC Lunchtime Concerts from St John's Smith Square,the Wigmore Hall and St George's, Brandon Hill. In Holland they have played in the Rotterdam Schubertiade and the Chamber Music series of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and in Germany in the Hannover Gesellschaft fur Neue Musikls Hommage fur Gubaidalina Festival (broadcast live by Nord Deutsche Rundfunk) and the Schleswig Holstein and Niedersachsen Festivals In July 1991 they inaugurated their own annual chamber music festival in Cerne Abbas, Dorset, and in 1997 started another annual Festival in Leersum, Holland. The Gaudier Ensemble's other recordings, include the Spohr Octet and Nonet, the Piano and String Quintets of Dvorak, two discs of works by Berwald and a recording of works by Jean Francaix all recorded for Hyperion Records. More recent discs of Johann Strauss Dances and works by Mozart were released in 2000 and 2001, again for Hyperion and their second recording of the Schubert octet came out in early 2003 to great critical acclaim. Recordings of Mozart Divertimenti and Piano Concerti (with pianist Susan Tomes) were released in late 2003, again receiving outstanding notices. Their most recent recordings feature works by Weber and Beethoven.