The woodwind quintet Ensemble Astera, was the first prize winner of the Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music Competition of 2023.

Since the founding of the ensemble in 2019, the musicians of the Ensemble Astera have been united by friendship and a common passion for chamber music. They are keen to communicate their shared musical vision, namely the blending of the diverse sounds and timbres of their five wind instruments in search for unity and the broadest artistic dimension.

The ensemble members’ experiences with major international orchestras have enhanced their cohesion, distinctive sound, and musical affinity with the wind quintet. This Franco-Swiss ensemble offers a refreshing perspective on the classical music scene. The musicians are driven by an insatiable enthusiasm, investing their energy towards thoughtful and committed performances, whilst making the most of their ensemble’s many sound possibilities.

The ensemble’s artistic dynamism is also characterised by its approach to the contemporary repertoire, and its strong desire to bring innovation to concerts halls. This was acknowledge by the winning of the prize for best performance of the commissioned work at the 2023 Nielsen competition.

Ensemble Astera regularly performs for festivals and music seasons across Europe, such as Lavaux Classic, Aix-en-Provence Easter Festival, Davos Festival and the Murten Classics Festival among others. The ensemble can also be heard on France Musique, Radio Télévision Suisse and Danish Radio.

Since 2023, the Ensemble Astera is Artist in residence at the Fondation Singer-Polignac in Paris.

Thanks to its collaboration with sound engineer Michael Seberich, and a residency offered by St Columba’s Drimnin Trust in Scotland, Ensemble Astera recorded its first album in the summer of 2024, which will be released shortly.