Uroboros Ensemble was formed in 1982, bringing together some of Britain's most accomplished and best-known instrumentalists. The group was founded by the composer Gwyn Pritchard who remains their current Artistic Director and Conductor. After a dormant period from 1996 to 2003 the group was revived, retaining some of the original players who have been joined by new-comers, once again drawn from amongst Britain’s most distinguished performers of contemporary chamber music. The ensemble’s concerts may include from three to eighteen players.        

Uroboros Ensemble has performed extensively throughout Britain and abroad, and presented a number of major concert series in London. They have appeared in international festivals including the Warsaw Autumn Festival, The International New Music Week, The Reggello International Festival in Italy. They have made many recordings for radio and television, and can be heard on CD on the Etcetera label.

Primarily a group specialising in contemporary music, Uroboros Ensemble is noted for presenting programmes that embrace an unusually wide range of musical styles originating from many countries around the world.  Several distinguished composers have written pieces specially for them and they have given numerous world and national premières, including music by Lutoslawski, Firsova, Finnissy, Ichiyanagi, Wuorinen, Stachowski and many others. As well as commissioning and performing new works Uroboros Ensemble is equally committed to giving further performances of contemporary  pieces that have been unduly neglected; and their concerts may also include music from the “classical“ repertoire, which is always carefully selected so as to create a pathway leading to greater enjoyment and understanding of the contemporary works being performed.

Since 2003 Uroboros Ensemble has been a co-promoter of the Reggello International Festival in Italy at which they have also been the resident ensemble, giving concerts and organising the Reggello International Composers’ Competition in association with the festival. In addition to coordinating the process of score submissions and the selection of finalists by an international jury, the ensemble holds public rehearsals at the festival of the finalists’ pieces, and gives performances of the winning works in both Italy and London. a

From it’s beginning Uroboros Ensemble's has been committed to an extensive educational programme in which people of all ages are encouraged to explore music, especially contemporary music, and also to develop their own skills in both performance and composition. They have organised many composers' workshops from which significant new talents have subsequently emerged. Concerts are frequently preceded by special open rehearsals with commentaries to allow listeners new insights into music and its performance.

The Uroboros management also promotes performances by other musicians sharing similar artistic concerns. Groups may be invited to visit Britain to undertake tours arranged and co-ordinated through the Uroboros office; such as the outstanding Basle Soloists’ UK tour which included three events at The Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and appearances in London and other British cities. Uroboros has also promoted concerts for younger, emerging artists such the acclaimed British pianist Nicolas Hodges.

Although Uroboros Ensemble events are usually presented by independent promoters such as festivals, much of their more pioneering work has been promoted by the Ensemble itself, and has been financed by grants from trusts and foundations or from public funding sources such as The Arts Council, Regional Arts Associations or The British Council; also by donations from private supporters and corporate sponsors. Uroboros Ensemble is a Registered Charity and a Limited Company.