He is thrilled to have some of the city's finest players in his ranks, musicians who relish the opportunity to play a work like last year's Anaktoria by Iannis Xenakis.
"One of the orchestra described it as wonderfully weird," Scholes laughs, going on to explain how bass player Evgueny Lanchtchikov constructed "a special extension to his instrument so he could play the low G that Xenakis asks for".
Tomorrow's concert features the Auckland premiere of Philip Glass' 1992 Concerto Grosso, plus the third of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos.
"It doesn't stop," he laughs, when I ask him about the work by Glass, a composer whose name for many listeners has become a synonym for minimalism.
"The programme notes say it's a departure from his usual style," Scholes points out.
"However, I see it as just hard-out Philip Glass, and it's quite taxing on the players' stamina."
He likes the way in which this contemporary score has the same sense of momentum and patterning as the Bach, which will be played by just nine strings with Indra Hughes on harpsichord.
After interval, we will be firmly transported to contemporary New Zealand with Maisey Rika, Hinewehi Mohi and Don McGlashan delivering a set of their own songs with orchestral arrangements. Scholes has worked with all three before and he has fond memories of making music alongside McGlashan in a "crazy Handel trio for two clarinets and French horn in the days when Don played the horn".
Some may also remember McGlashan taking part in the ACO's Gone to the Beach outings a few years ago, which included Toy Factory Fire, one of the songs included in tomorrow's concert.
Singer Hinewehi Mohi has a particularly close association with the ACO that, last year, produced a CD, Raukatauri.
"I first met Hinewehi when she was recording her Oceania CD," Scholes recalls. "I was helping in the studio when Martin Lee played that oboe solo in her song Hineraukatauri. I was struck by the absolute purity of Hinewehi's voice, combined with the beauty of the Maori vowels that makes her singing so special."
In tough times, Auckland chamber music has proven to be a survivor and Scholes is quick to acknowledge an active, supportive trust board and generous sponsors.
"Some of these benefactors used only to sponsor sports. Now they're also helping with music and other cultural activities. They seem to be pleased with the way their money is going back into the community via the musicians we employ and the audiences who enjoy what we do."
Performance
What: Auckland Chamber Orchestra
Where and when: Raye Freedman Arts Centre, 6 Silver Rd, Epsom, tomorrow at 5pm