The Austin Chamber Ensemble was formed in 1981 as a wind quintet. It began with a series of six concerts in 1985 as a tribute to the Texas Sesquicentennial with the
Six Flags Over Texas concerts featuring composers from France, Spain, Texas, Mexico, the Confederacy, and the US. These were performed in the Elizabeth Ney Museum and included Austin Chamber Ensemble members and guest artists.
Although the Austin Chamber Ensemble initially had a wind quintet as its core ensemble, it has gradually branched out to include all instrumental and vocal combinations in its concerts. Some of the more successful concerts have included chamber orchestra with two pianos and narrator in