Next Performance:

  • Chelmsford Cathedral

    Duke Street CM1 1EH

    Friday, 21st January 2028
    12:00

    –

    12:45

Chelmsford Guitar Orchestra

CheGO is directed by guitarist Roger Montgomery who has taught music for most of a lifetime, and performed in many combinations and styles. After a number of years of teaching, performing and composing, the time came to form a group to show what guitarists combined can do.

CheGO was born in 2011 starting with Roger’s own pupils and has now expanded to include new friends and colleagues. Their repertoire consists of music that has been arranged specifically for the orchestra and of Roger’s original compositions which aim to be tuneful, harmonically interesting and of course perfectly suited for guitars to play. It also gives the orchestra an element of originality. The group is growing in number and is always happy to enlist new members wherever possible.

We meet fortnightly on Wednesdays in Galleywood, near Chelmsford and play at venues across Essex.

If you play classical guitar and would like to join our group or if you would like us to play at your function or event, please contact Roger Montgomery.

Upcoming Performances:

  • Chelmsford Cathedral

    Duke Street CM1 1EH

    Friday, 21st January 2028
    12:00

    –

    12:45

CheGO Videos

Performed at the Lunchtime Concert in Chelmsford Cathedral on 27/10/2023

Funiculi Funiculi 

Performed on 8th March 2023 at the Chelmsford Theatre Studio Lunchtime Concert.

Swan LK243 by Catriona McKay arranged by Roger Montgomery. Performance was on 8th March 2023 at the Chelmsford Theatre Studio Lunchtime Concert.
Por Una Cabeza(By a head-in a horse race) Carlos Gardel, arranged by Roger Montgomery. Performed on 8th March 2023 at the Chelmsford Theatre Studio Lunchtime Concert.
Winter’s Brightening, by Roger Montgomery for Chelmsford Guitar Orchestra(Chego). This performance was on 8th March 2023 at the Chelmsford Theatre Studio Lunchtime Concert.

‘By the Sleepy Lagoon’ by Eric Coates
‘Forever After’, an original composition by their music director, Roger Montgomery. Recorded in March 2020.
Turkey Time by Roger Montgomery and played by Chelmsford Guitar Orchestra(Chego). This was recorded in March 2020.

Swan LK243 is the name of a fishing boat in the Shetland Islands and where Catriona McKay, a Scottish harpist, was inspired to compose this piece. Being unable to rehearse together due to the 2021 lockdown, recorded the individual parts remotely which were then put together by Roger. Members of the group are: Geoff Howell, Caroline Hall, Andrew Luxton, Diana Heffer, Noel Pereira, Paul Jupp, Roger Montgomery(musical director), Sarah Partridge, Ian Woolway, Emmanuelle Wright, Gerry Cabanero, George Willey, James Moodey, and Richard Parker(bass guitar).
Tea for Two by Vincent Youmans from the 1930 Musical ‘No, No, Nanette’. Busy, breathing new life into old pieces while we are isolated in our homes but connected by the internet. The arrangement is by Roger Montgomery, the orchestra’s music director and zealously performed by Chego’s fourteen players.
‘Oblivion’ by Piazzolla was arranged by Chego’s director, Roger Montgomery who also assembled this from the separate video recordings.
Yesterday’s Dance was composed by Chego’s director, Roger Montgomery. The recordings were assembled from the individual home-made recordings made during the pandemic of 2020. Yesterday’s Dance starts simply but, after a short while, develops into a more solid two-in-a-bar rhythm supporting livelier melodies. It builds up before a brief return to the first theme. Like most other music ensembles, Chego has not been able to rehearse or perform since the lockdown began in March but they are managing to keep their ensemble playing skills sharp by means of their computers, headphones and guitars!
Libertango by Astor Piazzolla, recorded in June 2020 during the lockdown. Each individual video was recorded in members’ own homes then mixed and synchronised by the ensemble’s music director Roger Montgomery.
Another ‘lockdown’ piece by the guitar orchestra. Jingle Bells was composed by James Pierpont in 1857 to be sung on Thanksgiving during sleigh races. Chego’s players haven’t rehearsed since March but manage to keep the music alive these by virtual performances. The group’s music director, Roger Montgomery, arranged the music as a jazz waltz and also put the video together.

Contact Chego

We would love to hear from you if you play classical guitar or would like to book us for your event.

Contact CheGO