James McDowall - Flute Simon Dewhurst - Oboe - Clarinet
Tim Hill - Horn Robert Percival - Bassoon
The Chameleon Ensemble was formed in 1993 and quickly gained recognition for its innovative programming and accomplished performances. In addition to regular appearances at UK festivals and music societies the group broadcast Nielsen, Poulenc and Ligeti for BBC Radio 3 in 1995, made its Purcell Room debut with a programme of contemporary British music for the Park Lane Group in 1998 and were resident artists at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada in 1999 giving ten performances as part of the Summer Festival there. In 2003-4 the group was selected for the National Federation of Music Societies/Making Music Concert Promoters Network and in 2005 they were supported by the Ralph Vaughan Williams Trust in commissioning a new work for wind quintet by Leamington Spa born composer, Ivor McGregor.
Chameleon's main aim is to raise the profile of the wind quintet by promoting the large body of works written for the medium; but like a true chameleon the Ensemble changes,
and can include piano, strings, voice and additional wind instruments. For full details or to listen to audio samples please view our extensive repertoire list.
From 1995-1999 the Chameleon Ensemble performed regularly as part of Yehudi Menuhin's Live Music Now! scheme gaining invaluable experience outside the concert hall working with children and adults of all ages and abilities including those with special needs. Chameleon continues to be committed to education work and, in recent years, has collaborated on projects with the Wigmore Hall, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, the Bath International, Lichfield, Warwick and Leamington and Rydale Festivals, Birmingham Conservatoire Junior School and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Chameleon currently offers concert presentations for National Curriculum Key Stages 1, 2 & 3, composition based workshops for GCSE and A Level music students and chamber music/orchestral wind section coaching to LEAs, independent schools and youth orchestras. Please contact us for further information or to discuss your particular requirements.
"For our members, a concert given by a wind quintet was something quite unusual, but they thoroughly enjoyed the chance to listen to a varied programme of music so expertly and professionally played. We hope that other music clubs, on our recommendation might consider booking Chameleon so that they too might experience the playing of such an innovative quintet. Their concert was undoubtedly amongst the highlights of our season."
Grantham Music Club
"A most unusual and imaginatively planned performance of wind pieces for one, two, three, four and five instruments which surprised and delighted our members. Sensitive playing with both elegance and wit..."
Bedford Music Club
"Our members were delighted with the concert given by the Chameleon Ensemble. It was a very interesting programme, well presented and expertly played. I would thoroughly recommend the Ensemble to all Chamber Music Clubs."
Bury St Edmunds Concert Club
"Thank you for a great concert last night. Your programme had plenty of variety and really showed off wind playing to good effect. We do not often have wind ensembles and it made a nice change. Hope that you will be able to come again."
Repton School Subscription Concert Society
"Full of vitality and extremely professional both in its presentation and in its ability aptly to characterise a wide repertoire... the results sound cherished and distinctive...The audience was held spellbound by the generous give and take of the players."
Birmingham Post
"There was a communicated sense of enjoyment on both sides and one feels that wherever these musicians go, and however well their careers deservedly develop, the pleasure given by live music will always be their priority. The second half consisted of twentieth century works and here the sheer exuberance of these young players was most effective. Full justice was given to [the Nielsen] in this performance."
Mid Wales Journal
"The solo clarinetist, played in fiercely demanding pieces by Brahms and Schubert at either end of a fascinating event which included also a fine soprano soloist, an expressive 'cellist and a gently but dependably supportive pianist. Luan's own contribution was characteristic in that it was extremely positive consistently, accommodatingly sensitive to the individualities of her fellow musicians and sweetly melodious in character."
Coventry Evening Telegraph
"[The Chameleon Ensemble] proved to be accomplished instrumentalists in their own right as well as blending sympathetically with each other. This was especially evident when the sublime harmony of the Mozart Quintet K452 emerged in its full glory in the sonorous larghetto. The [wind] were elegantly played and given firm support from the piano. John Harbison's quintet made a notable impression. It pushed the genre to extremes... but its compelling sense of structure and lively syncopation made the work approachable even on a first hearing. The Poulenc Sextet delighted the audience with its variety of rhythm, sensuous harmony and tonal colour. This was a well-attended and enjoyable concert, which enhanced the reputation of the musicians who took part."
Stratford-upon-Avon Herald
"The concert opened with dazzling playing in a group arrangement based on Richard Strauss' Till Eulenspiegel, little the worse for its truncation in this version. Next came Schulhoff's Bass Nightingale for unaccompanied contrabassoon, played and introduced with great wit by Robert Percival. Skempton's Lullaby for clarinet and 'cello was extremely beautifully played. The main work was Schubert's great Octet... this account was distinguished by scores of inventive and delightful touches."
Birmingham Post
Fees are by negotiation and will vary according to repertoire, instrumentation and size of ensembles as well as timing and locations of concerts. Please contact us for details or to discuss your specific requirements.
links: www.livemusicworkshops.co.uk Maskarade Clarinet Quartet www.classical.net www.bassoon.org British Music Information Centre British Flute Society
