Biography

“The singing of VOCES8 is impeccable in its quality of tone and balance. They bring a new dimension to the word ‘ensemble’ with meticulous timing and tuning.” Gramophone Magazine

“VOCES8’s gorgeous sound, impeccable ensemble and intense responsiveness to text, harmony and melodic shape is all of the highest quality. Hearing them sing is a joy.” BBC Music Magazine

“VOCES8 is the Rolls-Royce of British a cappella ensembles” The Arts Desk

The 2023 Grammy-nominated British vocal ensemble VOCES8 is proud to inspire people through music and share the joy of singing. Touring globally, the group performs an extensive repertory both in its a cappella concerts and in collaborations with leading musicians, orchestras, conductors and soloists. Versatility and a celebration of diverse musical expression are central to the ensemble’s performance and education ethos, shared both online and in person. They are the world’s top-streaming classical vocal group.

VOCES8 has performed at notable venues since 2005 including Wigmore Hall, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Berlin Philharmonie, Cité de la Musique Paris, Vienna Konzerthaus, Tokyo Opera City, NCPA Beijing, Sydney Opera House, Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall, Victoria Concert Hall Singapore, Palacio de Bellas Artes Mexico City. This season, they perform over 100 concerts worldwide, their 20th Anniversary season, including a birthday celebration concert at the Barbican, London.

They have collaborated in concert and in the recording studio with musicians including Paul Simon, Jacob Collier, Eric Whitacre, Christopher Tin, Olafur Arnalds, Cody Fry, Rachel Podger, Jack Liebeck, Bomsori Kim, Jonathan Dove, Chanticleer, The King’s Singers, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra.

VOCES8 is passionate about music education and is the flagship ensemble of the VOCES8 Foundation, which actively promotes “Music Education For All’. Engaging in broad outreach work reaching up to 40,000 people a year, the Foundation runs an annual programme of workshops and masterclasses at the VOCES8 Centre at St Anne & St Agnes Church, London. Dedicated to supporting promising young singers, VOCES8 awards eight annual choral scholarships through the VOCES8 Scholars initiative, linked to the Milton Abbey Summer School, where amateur singers of all ages learn and perform with VOCES8. The VOCES8 USA Foundation awards twelve more scholarships to talented young singers.

VOCES8’s entrepreneurial and community spirit is fostered by Co-Founders Paul and Barnaby Smith. The Covid-19 pandemic inspired VOCES8 to transform its offerings, nurturing a new online audience community. Pioneering initiatives include the LIVE From London online festival and the VOCES8 Digital Academy.

LIVE From London was created in response to the pandemic. Praised for its collaborative approach, the team has delivered twelve digital festivals, broadcasting over 150 concerts and selling over 250,000 tickets globally. This season features Christmas and Summer online festivals. The VOCES8 Digital Academy is an online choral programme for high schools, colleges, and individuals, featuring live interaction with ensemble members, lectures, and video resources to learn and perform music from the Renaissance to today. Both initiatives are filmed by VOCES8 Studios, the in-house recording company.

Alongside online work, VOCES8 is heard regularly on albums, international television, and radio. The ensemble is a Decca Classics artist and releases on VOCES8 Records. The Decca Classics recording of Christopher Tin’s “The Lost Birds”, featuring VOCES8 and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, was Grammy-nominated in 2023. Their new album is “Nightfall”, a reflective and transcendent collection inspired by the night. Recent releases include “A Choral Christmas”, “Home” conducted by Eric Whitacre, and “Seven Psalms” by Paul Simon.

VOCES8 works with Ken Burton, Composer-in-Residence, and Jim Clements, Arranger-in-Residence. They have premiered commissions from composers including Jonathan Dove, Roxanna Panufnik, Roderick Williams, Paul Smith, Jason Max Ferdinand, Jocelyn Hagen, Melissa Dunphy, and many others, including commissions for their 20th anniversary. They publish arrangements, original compositions, and educational material with VOCES8 Publishing, E.C. Schirmer, and Edition Peters. The VOCES8 Method, written by Paul Smith, is a unique teaching tool available in four languages, enhancing numeracy, literacy, and linguistics through music.

Andrea Haines, soprano
Molly Noon, soprano
Katie Jeffries-Harris, alto
Barnaby Smith, alto and artistic director
Blake Morgan, tenor
Euan Williamson, tenor
Christopher Moore, baritone
Dominic Carver, bass

General Management is provided by Robin Tyson at Podium Music Ltd.