A CONTEMPORARY choir based in Ashbourne is looking to increase its manpower.
Chameleon, a mixed voice choir led by Ashbourne man Ray Taylor, is hoping to attract more tenor and bass singers from the area.
Mr Taylor set up the choir three years ago, after years singing with other choirs in the area.
He said: “I’ve sung in several choirs and played the piano for a long time and for a few years I wanted to start a new choir.
“I wanted to be able to choose some of the music and put my own spin on it to try and bring out the best in the music and the people who sing it.”
Now Chameleon is searching for more men to add a little extra power to the bass and tenor sections.
In a relatively short time, the choir has established itself as something of a success locally, with engagements at weddings and functions as well as a concert which was attended by then Ashbourne Mayor, Tom Donnelly.
The choir’s musical evenings, an informal mix of choral and solo pieces with guest singers and musicians, have also proved popular, winning them a spot on the programme of this year’s Ashbourne Festival.
Mr Taylor added: “We have an ambitious programme for the festival and while we have a strong group of sopranos and altos we want to boost the man power with additional bass and tenor singers.
“We’re an enthusiastic group and we perform all kinds of music from pieces like Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man, a capella pieces, a range of songs from musicals and some pieces made famous by artists including Adele and Billy Joel.
“The direction was always going to be a small mixed choir doing contemporary music.
“It won’t be bigger than 30 voices and we won’t be taking on things like the big Handel pieces or anything like that.
“We’re an enthusiastic group and there’s a recognition that we won’t let each other down and every voice counts.
“Some of the pieces we do are suggested by choir members and everybody has a chance to contribute to how we sing and what we sing.
“Our musical evenings are informal and we have a mix of choral pieces performed by everybody and solos and duets performed by individual choir members.
“I wanted to bring out the talent best of people and the talents that they have.”
“As the leader of the choir, I’m thrilled with the progress we have made in a relatively short time.”
Tenor and bass singers interested in finding out more about Chameleon can email Mr Taylor at ray@reachbeyond.com.
He added: “It helps if singers can read music, but there’s plenty of support to learn parts in other ways.
“We don’t do the normal repertoire that choirs would usually sing, we’re quite unusual in that way.
The choir rehearses weekly at The Royal Oak. Hanging Bridge, at 7.30pm on Thursdays.
