Voces8
British a cappella octet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 | |
|---|---|
Voces8 in 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | England |
| Genres | A cappella music |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | voces8 |
History
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contained two sopranos, two countertenors, two tenors, a baritone and a bass.[1] By 2018, one of the countertenors had been replaced by a female alto.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]
LIVE from London is an online choral festival and broadcast series founded in 2020 by VOCES8 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, presenting professionally produced performances by vocal ensembles and artists from the United Kingdom and internationally, with selected participants including The Tallis Scholars, VOCES8, Take 6, I Fagiolini, London Adventist Chorale, ANÚNA, amarcord, The Aeolians, Apollo5, The King's Singers, and Stile Antico.[7][8][9][10]
VOCES8 has commissioned new works from composers such as 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.[11]
Their 2022 tour programme was called Stardust, after a composition commissioned from Taylor Scott Davis.[12]
In June 2025, VOCES8 marked its twentieth anniversary with an official anniversary concert at the Barbican Centre on 8 June, joined by the VOCES8 Scholars, former members of the ensemble, and the BBC Singers.[13] Reviewing the concert, The Guardian noted the participation of alumni, apprentices, violinist Jack Liebeck and the BBC Singers, and described the event as a celebratory twentieth-anniversary performance.[14]
In March 2026, VOCES8 announced that first tenor Blake Morgan would transition into the role of VOCES8 Ambassador and Associate Artist from the 2026-27 season, and that the ensemble would begin a search for a new singer to fill the tenor seat.[15]
Members
Current
Current members are as follows:[16]
- Savannah Porter – First soprano (2025–present)
- Eleonora Poignant – Second soprano (2025–present)
- Katie Jeffries-Harris – First alto (2018–present)
- Barnaby Smith – Second alto/countertenor and Artistic Director (2005–present)
- Blake Morgan – First tenor (2016–present; on sabbatical until Easter 2026, covered by Monty Charles)[17]; in March 2026, VOCES8 announced that he would transition into the role of VOCES8 Ambassador and Associate Artist beginning in the 2026-27 season, stepping away from his permanent tenor seat while continuing to work with the group through composing, arranging, selected performances, digital media production, and educational workshops.[18]
- Euan Williamson – Second tenor (2019–present)
- Chris Moore – Baritone (2018–present)
- Dominic Carver – Bass (2022–present)
As of 5 January 2026, VOCES8 has announced that Eleonora Poignant will be leaving the octet for the 2026 season.[19]
Former
The ensemble's former members are:[20]
- Rachel Major – First soprano (2005–2008)
- Andrea Haines – First soprano (2008–2025)
- Catherine Backhouse – Second soprano (2005–2009)
- Emily Dickens – Second soprano (2009–2017)
- Eleonore Cockerham – Second soprano (2017–2021)
- Molly Noon – Second soprano (2021–2024)
- Daniel Keating-Roberts – First countertenor (2005–2007)
- Chris Wardle – First countertenor (2007–2018)
- Charles MacDougall – First tenor (2005–2012)
- Oliver Vincent – First tenor (2012–2016)
- Thomas Elwin – Second tenor (2005–2006)
- Robin Bailey – Second tenor (2006–2009)
- Robert Mingay Smith – Second tenor (2009–2013)
- Sam Dressel – Second tenor (2013–2019)
- Paul Smith – Baritone and founder (2005–2016)
- Rob Clark – Baritone (2016–2018)
- Simon Whiteley – Bass (2005)
- Greg Hallam – Bass (2006)
- Dingle Yandell – Bass (2006–2015)[21]
- Jonathan Pacey – Bass (2015–2022)
Timeline
Lineup
| 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 | |||||||
| 2022–2024 | Dominic Carver | |||||||
| 2025–present | Savannah Porter | Eleonora Poignant |
VOCES8 Foundation
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.[22] Awarded a Classic FM (UK) Public Choice Award at the 2020 Music & Drama Education Awards,[23] 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.
Performance
Foundation artists perform around 200 concerts each year, including through online/livestreaming.[24]
Education
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.[25]
In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic they launched the VOCES8 Digital Academy featuring tutorials, exercises, learning and performing tracks and videos.[26]
Discography
The group has recorded with Decca, Signum, and their own Voces8 Records label. As part of their 15th anniversary celebrations in 2020, the group released their project After Silence,[27] consisting of four digital EPs.[28]
Albums
- Aces High (2010, Signum)[29][28]
- Bach's Motets, with the Senesino Players (2010)[4]
- Brahms, Bruckner, Reger (2011)
- In the Beginning (2012)
- Christmas (2012, Signum)[1]
- A Choral Tapestry (2012, Signum)[29]
- Where I Sleep (2014, Decca)[30]
- Eventide (2014, Decca)[30]
- Lux (2015, Decca)[30]
- Winter (2016, Decca)[2][30]
- Equinox (2018)[31]
- Enchanted Isle (2019)[32]
- After Silence (2020, Voces8 Records)[33]
- Infinity (2021, Decca)[32]
- Nightfall (2024)
- Twenty (2025)
EPs
- Voces8 EP (2019)
Collaborations
- A Capella Collection (2012, Signum) – with other groups, marking 15 years of Signum Records[29]
- Choral Collection (2012, Signum) – same[29]
- Early Music Collection (2012, Signum) – same[29]
- A Purcell Collection (2014, Signum) – by Voces8 and Les Inventions[29]
- Psalms (2015, Signum) – works by Benedetto Marcello, Voces8 and Les Inventions[29]
- Ola Gjeilo (2018, Decca) – works by Ola Gjeilo and Voces8[30]
- Home Is (2018) – by Jacob Collier and Voces8[34]
- Requiem Novum (2022) – by Mårten Jansson, Voces8, Apollo5, and the Philharmonia Orchestra[35]
- The Lost Birds (2022) – by Christopher Tin, Voces8 and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra[36]
- Home (2023) – with Eric Whitacre
- Seven Psalms (2023) – with Paul Simon
