|
Formed in 2003 by ex-choristers of Westminster Abbey Choir, the English vocal ensemble Voces8 has a diverse repertoire ranging from from 13th century polyphony (early English and European Renaissance choral work), such as Orlando Gibbons to contemporary commissions and their own arrangements of jazz and pop songs. They came up with the name en route to a competition. Paul Smith (one of the founding members) said, "We needed a name to go on stage and there were eight of us and we were in Italy. We wanted something that feels like voices but had that Latin vibe to it, so we went with voces." Voces8 has entertained audiences across Europe and the UK. The group has been praised for "stunning performance", "exquisite singing" and "a sound that spans the entire range of vocal colour". When not on the concert platform, Voces8 spends much of its time leading workshops and master-classes around the world. The ensemble is proud to inspire people through music and share the joy of singing. Touring extensively throughout Europe, North America and Asia; versatility and a celebration of diverse musical expression is central to the ensemble's performance ethos.
First achieving success in 2005 at the 44th International Choral Grand Prix in Gorizia, Italy, Voces8 won first prize for best jazz performance and the audience vote for best performance. In October 2006, Voces8 took part in the 38th International Choral Contest in Tolosa, Spain. The group won first prize in both the sacred and secular categories and was awarded the highest number of points in the overall competition.
Voces8 performs widely in the UK, Europe and the USA. They have performed at venues such as the Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Bridgewater Hall Manchester, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Cité de la Musique Paris, Vienna Konzerthaus, Tokyo Opera City, National Concert Hall Taipei, National Centre for the Performing Arts Beijing, Shanghai Concert Hall, Tel Aviv Opera House and Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall. Artistic collaborators have included the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, period ensembles Florilegium, Les Inventions, L'Arpeggiata and La Folia Barockorchester, and violinist/artistic director Hugo Ticciati, and cellist Matthew Sharp.
Early highlights included opening the National Choral Competition in Spain, appearances on Austrian and Slovenian television, a concert at Wartburg Castle for Deutschlandradio Kultur and a guest appearance for the International Federation of Choral Music in Belgium. Toursa in 2009 included the USA, Kenya, China, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Highlights of the 2014-2015 season included performances at Bozar Brussels, Lund Festival, Berliner Dom, Hamburg Laeiszhalle, Canterbury Festival, 3 Choirs Festival, Moscow International House of Music, the ACDA National Convention in Salt Lake City, return visits to Tokyo Opera City, Wigmore Hall, Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall, La Folle Journée France, and a debut tour of Canada. This season (2016-2017) they will perform with Baroque violinist Rachel Podger with a new innovative project called Guardian Angel. In the 2017-2018 season the ensemble will be touring Europe extensively, returning to Russia, and making three tours to the USA; they will also make debut tours to Singapore and Mexico.
Voces8 has premiered commissions from Roxanna Panufnik, Alexander Levine, Alec Roth, Ben Parry, Ola Gjeilo, Philip Stopford and Thomas Hewitt Jones. The group also performs bespoke arrangements written by Arranger in Residence, Jim Clements. In the 2015-2016 season, the group's composer in residence is Ola Gjeilo, alongside Jim Clements as principal music arranger. The ensemble welcomed one of the most celebrated contemporary composers, Jonathan Dove, as Composer in Residence for two seasons from September 2017. As well as a commission planned for 2019 (Jonathan's 60th birthday year), the associateship will provide mentoring opportunities to emerging composers linked with the group's education programme.
With an on-going programme of recordings and live broadcasts, Voces8 has appeared on the BBC is heard regularly on international television and radio, including in Germany, Belgium, Austria, Slovenia, France, Spain and Italy. The ensemble is a Decca Classics artist and has released acclaimed recordings that have been at the top of the classical charts. The first Decca album is "Eventide" which was released in February 2014. Prior to the recording contract with Decca, the ensemble recorded seven albums:"A Purcell Collection" (2013) "Christmas" (2012); "Choral Tapestry" (2011); J.S. Bach: Motets (BWV 225-230) (2010); "Aces High" (2010); "Evensong" (2008); "From Gibbons to Gershwin" (2007), "Blessings" (2006); and "Snowed In" (2006). Voces8 and the Senesino Players,. The most recent recordings are on the Signum label.
Voces8 is passionate about music education and is the flagship ensemble of the music charity VCM Foundation. Engaging in a broad range of outreach work that reaches up to 40,000 people a year, the group also runs an annual programme of workshops and masterclasses at the Foundation's home in London, the Gresham Centre at St Anne & St Agnes Church. The ensemble is dedicated to supporting promising young singers and awards eight annual choral scholarships through the Voces8 Scholars initiative. These scholarships are linked to the annual Milton Abbey Summer School at which amateur singers of all ages are invited to work and perform with VOCES8. International education partnerships include Bozar Brussels, Paris Philharmonie, Vienna Konzerthaus and Heidelberg Frühling.
As official Ambassadors for Edition Peters, the ensemble has published a collection of Songbooks and educational material including the Voces8 Method. Developed by Paul Smith, Co-Founder of Voces8, this unique teaching tool is available in four languages and adopts music to enhance development in numeracy, literacy and linguistics.
Voces8 is the flagship ensemble of Voces Cantabiles Music, a music foundation based in South East England. Other ensembles in this organisation include Voces Cantabiles, an award-winning chamber choir. Voces Cantabiles, conducted by Barnaby Smith, has released a CD of previously unrecorded music by the Renaissance composer, Robert Parsons, on Naxos.
Voces8 is very grateful for support from Arts Council England, the Merchant Taylors' Company, the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers, Holman Fenwick Willan and T.M.Lewin. |
