The Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) is a chamber orchestra based in Sydney that was founded in 1975 by the cellist John Painter. The ensemble achieved international prominence under the leadership of Richard Tognetti, who was appointed lead violin in 1989 and later became the Artistic Director. The ACO is the only Australian musical ensemble that tours frequently on an international level, appearing at venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Musikverein, and Wigmore Hall. In 2014, an album featuring the American soprano Dawn Upshaw won three Grammy Awards. The orchestra has also appeared in the television series Classical Destinations and films such as Musical Renegades and Musica Surfica. The musicians perform on a collection of several Golden Age string instruments, including three Stradivarius violins. In 2005, the ACO Collective was established as a training and regional touring ensemble for emerging artists.
