CHORAL CHAMELEON
Choral Music Ensemble
Sacred, Secular, Traditional,
Contemporary, Holiday Music
Monday, December 7, 2026
7.30 p.m.
PROGRAM to be announced soon
ABOUT THE MUSICIANS
Founded by Dr. Vince Peterson, Choral Chameleon is a nationally recognized New York City ensemble that continuously reinvents choral music through innovative programming and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The organization has commissioned and premiered over 350 new works, earned the 2015 ASCAP/Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming, is a recipient of The American Prize in Choral Music, and established an internationally renowned Institute training composers and conductors from five continents.
Choral Chameleon (CC) is an acclaimed vocal ensemble based in New York City, renowned for its diverse repertoire and innovative programming. Established in January 2008, CC consists of a semi-professional chorus of over 50 voices and a core professional ensemble of 16 singers. The group is celebrated for blending popular music with Western art music, breaking down barriers between genres, and creating dynamic and transformative concert experiences.
CC's performances are distinguished by their inclusion of mixed media, cross-field collaborations, and audience engagement. This approach has earned them the prestigious 2015 ASCAP/Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming. The ensemble has commissioned and cultivated over 320 new works in its first sixteen years, cementing its reputation as a champion of new choral music.
Notable collaborations include culinary choral work with Lish Steiling, "The Gauntlet" with Sxip Shirey and Coco Karol, and the world's first choral sound bath, "Washing," with Bloom Sound Collective. CC has also achieved several firsts, including being the inaugural vocal ensemble in residence at National Sawdust in Brooklyn and hosting the first Choral Music Rave Dance Party at Irondale Center for the Arts.
Central to CC's mission is a commitment to the longevity and evolution of the choral art form. The ensemble has established an internationally recognized teaching institute for composers and conductors, which convenes semi-annually in New York City and has welcomed over 150 students from five continents. This institute also offers a multi-year Music Directing Fellowship Program for early-career choral conductors, provided free of charge.
Choral Chameleon's recent highlights include the 2019 release of Eri Yamamoto's "GOSHU ONDO SUITE," the innovative concert series "BIGGER THAN MY BODY," and the 2022 premiere of Ed Thompson's "STEP INTO THE NIGHT." The ensemble also launched the immersive choral rave dance party, "BIGGER THAN MY SONG," and continues to be featured on the PARMA/Navona Record Label.
Choral Chameleon's educational outreach initiative has significantly impacted high school and college students. The highlight of this program is the annual Institute for composers and conductors, featuring a world-class faculty including multi-Grammy award winners Vance George and Matthew Oltman, along with other leading figures in modern choral music.
Praised by TimeOut New York as a "shape-shifting" ensemble and acclaimed in Downbeat Magazine, Choral Chameleon continues to be a significant force in the classical music industry. Through its diverse programming, community engagement, and educational initiatives, CC fosters a vibrant, inclusive, and forward-thinking musical community in New York City.