Voces8

Biography

One of the world’s most exciting and versatile vocal groups, VOCES8’s extraordinary musical range spans the centuries – from Renaissance music to jazz and pop arrangements.

The Grammy-nominated British vocal ensemble regularly commissions and collaborates with leading contemporary composers, including Jonathan Dove, Roxanna Panufnik, Roderick Williams, Ben Parry, Ola Gjeilo and Philip Stopford.
The ensemble also works with top musicians including Paul Simon, Jacob Collier, Eric Whitacre, Christopher Tin, Cody Fry, Rachel Podger, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) and Philharmonia Orchestra.

VOCES8 has performed at many notable venues since its inception in 2005 including Wigmore Hall, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Berlin Philharmonie, Vienna Konzerthaus, Sydney Opera House and Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall.

Outreach and education are at the core of VOCES8’s work. They are the flagship ensemble of the music charity, the VOCES8 Foundation, which promotes music education for all and reaches 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. Through the separate VOCES8 USA Foundation there is another set of twelve talented Scholars.

VOCES8 is heard regularly on albums, international television and radio, including Classic FM. The ensemble is a Decca Classics artist, also releasing on its own label, VOCES8 Records. The Decca Classics recording of Christopher Tin’s ‘The Lost Birds’ featuring VOCES8 and the RPO was nominated for a Grammy in 2023.

Pioneers in classical music, co-Founders Paul and Barnaby Smith have spearheaded initiatives including the LIVE From London online festival, created as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the VOCES8 Digital Academy. To date, LIVE From London has delivered 10 digital festivals, broadcast over 100 concerts and sold 250,000 tickets around the world.

Ken Burton is the group’s Composer-in-Residence and Jim Clements is Arranger-in-Residence, and general management is provided by Robin Tyson at Podium Music.