Arrangements · Orchestration · Musical theatre
Arranger / Orchestrator
Paul Emmett creates arrangements and orchestrations for choirs, orchestras, wind bands, brass bands, chamber groups, theatre projects, schools, and community ensembles.
Shaped around the forces available
His work is practical, performer-focused, and shaped around the forces available. Whether arranging a song for a concert, orchestrating for musical theatre, adapting music for an unusual ensemble, or preparing a score for a one-off project, Paul aims to create music that works clearly in rehearsal and feels satisfying to perform.
How the process works
1
Initial enquiry
Send details of the music, ensemble, event, deadline, and any practical requirements.
2
Scope and quote
Paul will confirm whether the project is possible, what permissions may be needed, and the likely cost.
3
Arrangement or orchestration
The music is created around the ensemble, ability level, instrumentation, and performance context.
4
Review
Where appropriate, drafts or demos can be shared for feedback.
5
Delivery
Final score, parts, PDFs, and other agreed materials are supplied.
For arrangements of copyrighted music, permission or licensing may be required before the arrangement can be created or performed. Paul can discuss the practicalities of this during the enquiry stage, but responsibility for performance rights, venue licences, and publisher permissions may vary depending on the project.
Arranging
Paul can arrange songs, themes, existing works, and concert material for a wide range of ensembles.
Arrangements can be tailored to the group’s ability level, available instruments, rehearsal time, and performance context. This is especially useful for community ensembles, school groups, choirs, theatre companies, and project-based concerts where standard published versions are not suitable.
- A pop song for brass band
- A film theme for full orchestra
- A song for a cappella choir
- A solo feature with ensemble
- A concert medley for a specific group
- A simplified arrangement for school or community players
Orchestration
Paul orchestrates music for large and small ensembles, shaping texture, colour, balance, and playability.
His background as a composer, conductor, performer, and score engraver gives him a practical understanding of how music sits on the page and how it works in rehearsal. This is especially valuable when writing for mixed ability groups, unusual instrumentation, theatre pits, or one-off ensembles.
- Full orchestra
- Chamber orchestra
- Theatre pit
- Brass and wind
- Choir with ensemble
- Hybrid / flexible forces
Musical theatre
Paul has experience in musical theatre as an orchestrator, arranger, conductor, and musical director.
He has orchestrated for London Musical Theatre Orchestra SITZ playthrough days, working with large orchestral forces and theatre repertoire. Due to licensing restrictions, some examples cannot be shared publicly, but further details can be discussed by enquiry.
Available for
- Musical theatre orchestration
- Pit reductions
- Vocal arrangements
- Rehearsal materials
- Custom versions for amateur and community productions
- Orchestration support for new writing
Choir and a cappella
Paul has arranged extensively for vocal groups, including a cappella choirs, mixed voices, medleys, mashups, and contemporary song arrangements.
His vocal arrangements focus on clear part-writing, practical ranges, strong ensemble shape, and keeping the character of the original song alive in a singable choral texture.
Bands, orchestras, and community ensembles
Paul regularly creates arrangements for ensembles where the available line-up, player confidence, and rehearsal time matter.
He can adapt material for community orchestras, wind bands, brass bands, school ensembles, chamber groups, or project-based groups, creating music that suits the people in the room rather than forcing the ensemble to fit an existing score.
Licensed arrangements
Some of Paul’s licensed arrangements are available to buy through Sheet Music Plus / ArrangeMe.
These include arrangements of well-known songs and concert items for different ensembles.
Need an arrangement?
Send details of the music, the ensemble and the deadline.