For clarinetist Paul Dean, the inspiration to found a brand new chamber music ensemble – dubbed Ensemble Q – at the Queensland Conservatorium was driven by “a real desire to get it right.”

“Every group I have been a part of in my life has had to make sacrifices either in repertoire choices or standards,” he explains, “and my partner Trish O’Brien (cello) and I just decided it was time to finally play chamber music with the best players, programme wonderful music and support young Australia musicians and composers – all to the very highest level.”

Paul Dean, Ensemble QClarinettist Paul Dean

The founding of this ensemble is full circle for Dean, who graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium himself 30 years ago, before becoming the Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s youngest principal musician at the age of 21. He was Artistic Director of the Southern Cross Soloists for ten years before relocating to Melbourne to head the Australian National Academy of Music. Now Head of Wind at the Queensland Conservatorium, Dean has big plans.

“We are hoping to make Brisbane the home of chamber music in Australia, and to set a new bench mark in programming, mentoring...