Founded by clarinettist Stuart King in 1997, CHROMA is a London-based collective of outstanding freelance musicians engaged in new music and revisiting classic repertoire in fresh and exciting contexts; mentoring the next generation of composers, and involving people in compelling, inspirational experiences, both as audiences and creators.

CHROMA performs chamber concerts throughout the UK, from Devon to Shetland. Championing the imaginative and sympathetic  programming of contemporary works, its own commissioning programme has recently included Freya Waley-Cohen Wake, Rubens Askenar Praise of Smoke and Dust, David Bruce Kundalee, Deborah Pritchard Rosa Celeste, Luke Bedford Falling Falling, David Gorton Burgh Castle, Michael Nyman chromattic, Leonardo Margutti Cochlear Short, Claudia Molitor 8+7= and DoodleOpera, Raymond Yiu Les Etoiles au Front (shortlisted British Composer Awards) and Michael Zev Gordon Glass Mountain.

Other premieres include  Anna Meredith Railgun (Norfolk and Norwich Music Club) Rolf Hind Sit Stand Walk (Spitalfields Festival), Joe Cutler Chanticleer and the Opera Fox with Roderick Williams (Little Missenden Festival - shortlisted British Composer Awards).

Collaborations
CHROMA has been Associate Ensemble with Tête à Tête since 2006 - which includes developing new work through Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival, including Kerry Andrew/Tamsin Collison Dart's Love (winner Best Stage Work British Composer Awards 2014), Laurence Obsorn/Theo Merz April in the Amazon and Lucie Treacher/Joanne Harris Moonlight in double bill with Na'ama Zisser/Stella Duffy The Last Seed.

Royal Ballet and Opera: 2021 hyper-reality opera installation Current, Rising score by Samantha Fernando; and premieres of operas - Philip Venables' adaptation of Sarah Kane's 4.48 Psychosis (ROH at Lyric Hammersmith 2016 revived 2018 - Best Large Scale Composition Royal Philharmonic Society 2017; Best Stage Work British Composer Awards 2017; Best Opera UK Theatre Awards 2016) Elspeth Brooke The Commission, Francisco Coll Café Kafka (Aldeburgh/ROH/Opera North co-production) Luke Bedford Through His Teeth Søren Nils Eichberg Glare Tarik O'Regan Heart of Darkness (ROH2/Opera East) Stewart Copeland Tell Tale Heart and Anne Dudley The Doctor’s Tale (ROH2 operashots).
Ballet - Will Tuckett's Wind in The Willows (ROH2 Linbury 2012/in the West End at the Duchess Theatre 2013/14 and Vaudeville Theatre 2014/15 - winner Best Entertainment Olivier Awards 2014).

Mahogany Opera Group: premiere tour of David Bruce's Firework Maker's Daughter (Hull Truck pemiere, then ROH Linbury and UK tour - nominated Olivier Awards 2014); in 2014 Gloria - A Pig's Tale by HK Gruber (UK tour including ROH Linbury, and Bregenz Festival); The Mother by Laurence Osborn (Posk London 2018).

Other collaborations include: Jessica Walker and Luke Styles People’s Cabaret, Phil Cashian’s Northend concerts, Polly Graham’s Loud Crowd at Bold Tendencies Peckham, Bampton Opera at Sinfonia Smith Square and Longborough Festival Opera.

Recordings include Richard Baker Motet II (NMC), Max Hoehn’s The Last Castrato (Opera21), and pieces written for CHROMA by RHUL post-grad composers Gonçalo Gato, Aitor Sorozabal, James Helgeson and Kyriakos Costa.

Mentoring and Participation
CHROMA believes in offering close-up, meaningful encounters with music, making new music experiences accessible, enjoyable and stimulating - it engages in diverse mentoring, community participation and learning activity, including ongoing collaborations with student composers and side-by-side mentoring of instrumentalists at the Royal Academy of Music, composer workshops at Oxford University and Royal Holloway University of London; workshops for women conductors with the Royal Philharmonic Society, and long-standing relationships with communities in Shetland.

with the Royal Opera company for sitzprobe of premiere run of Philip Venables 4.48 Psychosis (Lyric Hammersmith, London)

with the Royal Opera company for sitzprobe of premiere run of Philip Venables 4.48 Psychosis (Lyric Hammersmith, London)

CHROMA trusteES

Peter Brathwaite
David Bruce
Philip Cashian
Jessica Cottis
Katherine Pogson
Julian Wright

Honorary Trustees:
Diana Barcham-Stevens
Roger Rowe OBE

CHROMA on INSTAGRAM:

Rehearsing for tonight’s gig (6.30pm @royalacademyofmusic ) Culmination of great project with postgrad composers Ashkan Layegh, Yan Ee Toh, James Garner, Hani Elias and Sarah Marze Also working with RAM flautist Lydia Walquist and harpist Gra
Rehearsing for tonight’s gig (6.30pm @royalacademyofmusic ) Culmination of great project with postgrad composers Ashkan Layegh, Yan Ee Toh, James Garner, Hani Elias and Sarah Marze Also working with RAM flautist Lydia Walquist and harpist Grace Tanner… Thanks to @philcashian and #HelenGrime as ever #mentoring #contemporarymusic
This afternoon’s session at @gms_gold recording pieces by @aitor_sorozabal Too much fun 🤩
This afternoon’s session at @gms_gold recording pieces by @aitor_sorozabal Too much fun 🤩
Back at @gms_gold with @sperryjulian and @oconnellcello recording pieces by @aitor_sorozabal
Back at @gms_gold with @sperryjulian and @oconnellcello recording pieces by @aitor_sorozabal
Well that was splendid… Last night’s premiere of El Gran Grifón, a co-created piece telling the tale of the Armada ship wrecked on Fair Isle in 1588. The finale was the Unst Boat Song - sung acapella by Fair Isle folk in stunning
Well that was splendid… Last night’s premiere of El Gran Grifón, a co-created piece telling the tale of the Armada ship wrecked on Fair Isle in 1588. The finale was the Unst Boat Song - sung acapella by Fair Isle folk in stunning close harmony, followed by Stu’s arrangement for the quartet. Not a dry eye in the house. Brilliantly done everyone! #armada1588 Supported by: Classic Fair Isle Awards for All Scotland Shetland Community Benefit Fund Hugh Fraser Foundation Hope Scott Trust William Syson Foundation Golsoncott Foundation Foyle Foundation Scops Arts Trust
#armada1588 day 3 in Fair Isle - composing, forensic 1588 weather, beachcombing, crafting, birthday!
#armada1588 day 3 in Fair Isle - composing, forensic 1588 weather, beachcombing, crafting, birthday!
#armada1588
Hymhus, Bigton -last night's gig, with special guests Bigton Band joining us for the finale (and then... a tea and shortbread social!) Such a great evening in a fab venue - thank you Bigton folk #armada1588
Hymhus, Bigton -last night's gig, with special guests Bigton Band joining us for the finale (and then... a tea and shortbread social!) Such a great evening in a fab venue - thank you Bigton folk #armada1588
After the gig at Hymhus Bigton @paulbloomerartist gifted us the sketches he made during the concert. Thank you Paul! #armada1588
After the gig at Hymhus Bigton @paulbloomerartist gifted us the sketches he made during the concert. Thank you Paul! #armada1588
Armada project in Shetland! Part 1: Bigton Wonderfully packed 2 days so far with Sandwick and Dunrossness Schools and Bigton Band … Tonight we give a free gig in Hymhus (Bigton Kirk) at 7pm There’s a peerie feature on BBC Shetland with
Armada project in Shetland! Part 1: Bigton Wonderfully packed 2 days so far with Sandwick and Dunrossness Schools and Bigton Band … Tonight we give a free gig in Hymhus (Bigton Kirk) at 7pm There’s a peerie feature on BBC Shetland with us talking about it all… Link in bio, starts 24:49 in. #armada1588
Ready for Salieri @stjohnssmithsquare with @bamptonclassicalopera and @thomas_blunt_conductor Amazing this is their 30th year - congratulations Jeremy and Gilly for 3 decades of refreshing 18th C gems and giving opportunities to young artists!
Ready for Salieri @stjohnssmithsquare with @bamptonclassicalopera and @thomas_blunt_conductor Amazing this is their 30th year - congratulations Jeremy and Gilly for 3 decades of refreshing 18th C gems and giving opportunities to young artists!
Rehearsing for tonight’s gig (6.30pm @royalacademyofmusic ) Culmination of great project with postgrad composers Ashkan Layegh, Yan Ee Toh, James Garner, Hani Elias and Sarah Marze Also working with RAM flautist Lydia Walquist and harpist Gra This afternoon’s session at @gms_gold recording pieces by @aitor_sorozabal Too much fun 🤩 Back at @gms_gold with @sperryjulian and @oconnellcello recording pieces by @aitor_sorozabal Well that was splendid… Last night’s premiere of El Gran Grifón, a co-created piece telling the tale of the Armada ship wrecked on Fair Isle in 1588. The finale was the Unst Boat Song - sung acapella by Fair Isle folk in stunning #armada1588 day 3 in Fair Isle - composing, forensic 1588 weather, beachcombing, crafting, birthday!
#armada1588
Hymhus, Bigton -last night's gig, with special guests Bigton Band joining us for the finale (and then... a tea and shortbread social!) Such a great evening in a fab venue - thank you Bigton folk #armada1588 After the gig at Hymhus Bigton @paulbloomerartist gifted us the sketches he made during the concert. Thank you Paul! #armada1588 Armada project in Shetland! Part 1: Bigton Wonderfully packed 2 days so far with Sandwick and Dunrossness Schools and Bigton Band … Tonight we give a free gig in Hymhus (Bigton Kirk) at 7pm There’s a peerie feature on BBC Shetland with Ready for Salieri @stjohnssmithsquare with @bamptonclassicalopera and @thomas_blunt_conductor Amazing this is their 30th year - congratulations Jeremy and Gilly for 3 decades of refreshing 18th C gems and giving opportunities to young artists!

CHROMA is a non-incorporated association and registered charity no 1135431
VAT registered no 991 5285 83

correspondence address:
25 Gun Wharf
130 Wapping High Street
London E1W 2NH