These were the first residencies by an American ensemble since the end of the Vietnam War and Khmer Rouge era in Southeast Asia.
Guest conductors appearing with the ensemble have included Oliver Knussen, Stephen L. Mosko and Charles Wuorinen.
In March 2003, Southwest Chamber Music was the first American ensemble to perform at the Arnold Schoenberg Center in Vienna.
The ensemble has received six Grammy nominations for its four volume cycle of the Complete Chamber Works of Carlos Chávez on Cambria Master Recordings.
This recognition from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences includes 2003 and 2004 Grammy Awards in the Best Small Ensemble category for Volumes 1 and 2.