Chameleon Arts Orchestra

Leader – Simon Baggs

PLEASE NOTE: This website is currently being phased out and the information herein may be out of date. Please click here www.chameleon-arts-orchestra.co.uk to go to the new Chameleon Arts Orchestras website. Thank you for your patience.

"Many thanks for providing us with such a magnificent group of musicians on Sunday; it really was a phenomenal experience."
Pangbourne Choral Society (Bach St John Passion - February 2008)

"The Chameleon Arts Orchestra played beautifully throughout the evening; the strings provided a rich foundation while some superb woodwind playing, in particular from the first flute added richness to the texture."
Harrogate Advertiser (RVW Five Mystical Songs & Brahms Requiem - May 2005)

"...take this opportunity to thank you most sincerely for the superb professionalism of the Chameleon Arts Orchestra last Saturday. I look forward very much to working with the orchestra again."
Peter Leech - conductor of Aylesbury Choral Society (Mendelssohn Elijah - December 2004)

"The accompaniment from the Chameleon Arts Orchestra was superbly played ... the orchestra provided excellent support."
Michael Gray - Weekly News (Waltham Singers - November 2003)

* Imagine how wonderful it would be if you could book an orchestra of any size, for any concert and any occasion with just one phone call. Imagine if that orchestra comprised players of the highest quality and professionalism, managed comprehensively by a dedicated staff.

* At Chameleon we provide fully managed orchestras of regular players – all top professionals – at a level of service that will ensure the smooth running of any concert or event.

* Promoters will find the costs surprisingly competitive and we can adjust orchestral forces to fit any repertoire, all budgets and all venues.

* The orchestras have extensive experience in playing for choral society concerts, corporate and gala events, recordings and even garden parties. Transport is always arranged for the orchestra and music, lighting, staging and PA systems can be arranged if required.

* Chameleon's primary objectives are to ease the burden of concert promotion and to ensure that each client's event is a guaranteed success.

The Chameleon Arts Orchestras were formed over twenty years ago by Chameleon Arts Management, to answer the need of choirs and choral societies nationwide for quality performances of the great works for choir and orchestra. From Monteverdi to Maxwell Davies, the orchestras perform in Churches, Cathedrals and Concert Halls throughout the country and can regularly be seen in concert in churches including St Johns Smith Square and St Martin-in-the-Fields, the cathedrals of Ripon, Chelmsford, Portsmouth and Southwark and concert halls such as Snape Maltings, Dudley Town Hall, Portsmouth Guildhall, Queen's Hall Harrogate and Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

Specialising in the accompaniment of choral repertoire, the Chameleon Arts Orchestras come with the full experience and back up of a dedicated team, including a manager on the day to ensure the smooth running of each engagement. From the initial quotation to the successful conclusion of their concerts, our team looks after every aspect of each booking (including advice on repertoire or instrumentation if required and, where necessary, the provision of orchestral scores and parts) so that choirs can concentrate on what they do best – enjoying quality performances and satisfying their audiences.

The Chameleon Arts Orchestra boasts some of the country’s leading freelance players whose other work includes performing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, The Royal Opera Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and English Chamber Orchestra. As the premiere orchestra devoted to the performance of choral works, the players have a vast knowledge and experience of works regularly performed by choral societies. This experience has often proved valuable and helpful to choirs and conductors.

The Chameleon Arts Baroque Orchestra provides choral societies across the country with the opportunity to be accompanied on period instruments, and thus get closer to the orchestral sounds and colours that the composer intended, when performing the masterpieces of the Baroque and Classical periods. Individually the members of the orchestra are acknowledged specialists in period performance practice and continue to work, often as principals, with the leading ‘original instrument’ orchestras, including the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The Academy of Ancient Music, The King’s Consort, English Baroque Soloists, and Gabrieli Consort and Players.

The Chameleon Arts String Orchestra comprises the principal players from the main orchestra and specialises in concert performances of the fine string repertoire available to us. Performing for concert promoters, music clubs and festivals throughout the United Kingdom, this offshoot has proved very popular both for the players and their audiences, often resulting in return visits by the orchestra.

For further details, a list of commendations, a free quotation or even just preliminary discussion, please contact:

Chameleon Arts Management ,
32 St Michaels Road,
Sandhurst, Berkshire,
GU47 8HE

Telephone: +44 (0)1252 873313
Facsimile: +44 (0)1252 871517

A selection of recently performed repertoire: