Voces8 | |
|---|---|
 Voces8 in 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | England |
| Genres | A cappella music |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | voces8.com |
Voces8, styled VOCES8, is an a cappella octet from England. They have appeared internationally and made recordings of classical music, jazz, pop, and their own arrangements. Recent recordings are for Decca Classics and under their own label, Voces8 Records. Educational efforts are run by the Voces8 Foundation.
VOCES8 is a British vocal ensemble originally founded in 2003, [1] and regrouped in 2005, [2] by brothers Paul and Barnaby Smith, both former choristers of Westminster Abbey. [3] [4] For most of its history, the ensemble has contained two sopranos, two countertenors, two tenors, a baritone and a bass. [1] By 2018, one of the countertenors had been replaced by a female alto.
The ensemble has a diverse repertoire including early English and European Renaissance music, traditional folk song, classic jazz, pop and their own arrangements. [5] They have appeared internationally, touring especially in Europe, Asia and North America. [6] [2]
VOCES8 has commissioned new works from composers including Ēriks Ešenvalds, Ola Gjeilo, Jonathan Dove, Jocelyn Hagen, Ken Burton, Roderick Williams, Alexander Levine, Roxanna Panufnik, Mårten Jansson, Ben Parry and Christopher Tin. Jim Clements is their arranger-in-residence. [6]
The octet won the Limelight International Artist of the Year: People's Choice award at the 2021 Limelight Awards. [7]
Their 2022 tour program was called Stardust, after a composition commissioned from Taylor Scott Davis. [8]
| Period | First Soprano | Second Soprano | First Alto/Countertenor | Second Alto/Countertenor | First Tenor | Second Tenor | Baritone | Bass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–2006 | Rachel Major | Catherine Backhouse | Daniel Keating-Roberts | Barnaby Smith | Charles MacDougall | Thomas Elwin | Paul Smith | Simon Whiteley |
| 2006–2007 | Robin Bailey | Greg Hallam | ||||||
| 2007–2008 | Chris Wardle | Dingle Yandell | ||||||
| 2008–2009 | Andrea Haines | |||||||
| 2009–2012 | Emily Dickens | Robert Smith | ||||||
| 2012–2013 | Oliver Vincent | |||||||
| 2013–2015 | Sam Dressel | |||||||
| 2015–2016 | Jonathan Pacey | |||||||
| 2016–2017 | Blake Morgan | Rob Clark | ||||||
| 2017–2018 | Eleonore Cockerham | |||||||
| 2018–2019 | Katie Jeffries-Harris | Chris Moore | ||||||
| 2019–2021 | Euan Williamson | |||||||
| 2021–2022 | Molly Noon | |||||||
| 2022–present | Dominic Carver |
The VOCES8 Foundation (formerly VCM Foundation) is a UK-registered charity, set up by VOCES8 founder members Paul and Barnaby Smith in 2006 to develop the ensemble's music education and outreach programmes. [10] Awarded a Classic FM (UK) Public Choice Award at the 2020 Music & Drama Education Awards, [11] the charity works across choral and small vocal ensemble performance and education and is based at the VOCES8 Centre at St Anne and St Agnes Church in the City of London.
Foundation artists perform around 200 concerts each year, including through online/livestreaming. [12]
Foundation artists reach up to 40,000 people a year in regular workshops and masterclasses with Music Hubs, schools and community groups. In 2015 the ensemble launched the VOCES8 Scholars Programme which provides training in performing, recording and workshop leading for 20 young singers with an interest in choral singing in the UK and USA. [13]
In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic they launched the VOCES8 Digital Academy featuring tutorials, exercises, learning and performing tracks and videos. [14]
The group has recorded with Decca. They have also recorded with Signum, and their own Voces8 Records label. As part of their 15th anniversary celebrations in 2020, the group released their project After Silence, [15] composed of four digital EPs. [16]
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