Ensemble Chameleon


Jennifer Harris, historical bassoon

Jennifer Harris' historical bassoon education began at the Institute for Early Music in Trossingen, where she studied dulcian and baroque bassoon with Christian Beuse (Akademie für Alte Musik, Berlin). She went on to study in Frankfurt, at the Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Künste in Frankfurt/Main - again with Christian Beuse - this time concentrating on classical and romantic bassoon.

She is a member of the Hannoversche Hofkapelle (artistic director: Anne Röhrig) and plays regularly for Lautten Compagney Berlin.

Her first solo cd was released in 2014 with Carus: „The Bassoon Abroad“.

Jennifer Harris is a university professor at the Conservatoire in Vienna (Konservatorium Wien Privatuniversität) since 2009.

Ulrike Becker, cello, viola da gamba

studied cello at the Hochschule für Musik in Weimar and Berlin and went on to complete a Konzertstudium for viola da gamba. Ulrike Becker is a member of the Lautten Compagney Berlin. She was given solo numbers with the Handel Festival Orchestra Halle under Howard Arman and with the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin under Philippe Herreweghe. She is a founding member of Trio L`Arabesque, with whom she won a scholarship in the competition of the German Music Council in Bonn (Deutschen Musikrates in Bonn). In 1997 Ulrike Becker received the special award at the international Bach-Abel Competition for viola da gamba for the best interpretation of Karl Friedrich Abel, and in 2000 came second in that very competition.

Barbara Messmer, violone, viola da gamba

Born in Heidelberg, her first studies were at the Musikhochschule Mannheim with Monika Schwamberger. After her A-Levels she went to Hamburg, were she completed the DML exam at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater from 1980-1984 with Pere Ros. Further education followed from 1984-1988 at the Königlichen Konservatorium in Den Haag with Wieland Kuijken. Barbara Messmer is a member of several early music ensembles and baroque orchestras in Germany, with whom she regularly plays in Germany and abroad. She lives in Hamburg.

Andrea Baur, lutes, guitars

Andrea C. Baur was born in Neustadt an der Weinstraße, and studied lute and recorder at the Hochschule für Musik Würzburg with Dieter Kirsch and Bernhard Böhm, and at the Institute for Early Music, Trossingen, under Rolf Lislevand. She has appeared under William Christie, Philippe Pierlot, John Holloway, Charles Toet, Wim Becu and Konrad Junghänel in concerts as well as opera productions, also solistically. She plays in many chamber music ensembles and orchestras, among others with Lautten Compagney Berlin, Capella Caesarea, Ensemble Schirokko Hamburg, and was, 2000-2004, repetiteur at the Sommerakademie für Alte Musik in Innsbruck.

Evelyn Laib, harpsichord

Evelyn Laib studied harpsichord and continuo playing in Stuttgart, Munich and Basle. She has won several early music competitions (York, Den Haag, Neuburg) and, apart from giving many concerts, taking part in opera productions and giving courses, she is a tutor at the Musikhochschule Trossingen and the Musikhochschule Stuttgart.