VOCES8 UK Scholars 2024-25
Set-up in 2015, the UK Scholars Programme is designed for eight singers with a particular interest in choral and small ensemble singing. With tutoring from current and former members of VOCES8, the programme offers training in performing, recording and workshop leading, with opportunities to sing alongside VOCES8. The Scholars are also invited to observe and participate in our innovative education programmes and learn to use the unique teaching tool that is The VOCES8 Method.
If you're viewing this website on a phone or tablet, please click the white dot in the bottom right-hand corner of the photo pages to view the Scholars' biographies.
Highlights of each UK Scholars season include:
Two residential courses in or near London with coaching from current and former members of VOCES8
Artist internship at the VOCES8 Festival and Summer School, Milton Abbey
Scholar-only recording session at the VOCES8 Centre in central London
Performing opportunities with VOCES8
Opportunities to observe and participate in the VOCES8 Foundation’s learning and participation programmes across the UK
The Scholars programme concludes with a week-long residency at the VOCES8 Summer School and Festival, an annual singing course for amateur singers led by VOCES8. During this week, the Scholars have the opportunity to present public performances both as their own ensemble and alongside VOCES8, and receive coaching from the members of VOCES8 and other visiting artists. They also have the opportunity to observe our education work and to assist the amateur singers by acting as section leaders for the Gala Concert.
Euan Williamson and Katie Jeffries-Harris, both former Scholars, are now full-time members of VOCES8. Other former scholars regularly sing with Apollo5 and carry out education work for the Foundation.
You can view this year’s 2024-25 UK Scholars’ performance of ‘Surge, illuminare, Jerusalem’ by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina below, and find the 2023-24 UK Scholars’ performance of ‘Jubilate Deo’ by Giovanni Gabrieli at the bottom of the page.
Last year’s 2023-24 UK Scholar season began in early September with a three-day course in London. The Scholars spent time rehearsing together and with VOCES8, exploring the VOCES8 Method with Ann Wright, learning about looking after their voice with Kate Valentine from Valentine Voice Care, and they got their first taste of recording and filming with Barnaby Smith and VOCES8 Studios.
In April, the Scholars reconvened for a weekend of masterclasses and recordings, comprising an ensemble workshop with members of VOCES8, a solo masterclass with Roderick Williams, and recording individual movements from Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Songs of Travel for Live From London with the pianist Ralf Schnell.
Milton Abbey 2024 saw the Scholars performing in multiple concerts side-by-side with VOCES8, the pinnacle of which was a performance of Hubert Parry’s Songs of Farewell interspersed with Tomás Luis de Victoria’s Requiem. They also prepared and performed a hugely successful first half of a concert as their own ensemble, presenting repertoire they’d been working on during their scholarship year.
Throughout their Scholar season, members of the programme participated in around 25 days of education workshops and education training days led by the VOCES8 Foundation and joined VOCES8 and the VOCES8 Foundation Choir for a number of larger scale performances.
“I’ve really enjoyed my year as a VOCES8 Scholar: working in detail on a wide range of repertoire, with expert coaching from VOCES8 was extremely valuable, and has given me confidence to apply for jobs I may not have done otherwise. ”
The VOCES8 UK Scholars Programme is led by VOCES8’s Artistic Director, Barnaby Smith (barnaby@voces8.foundation), VOCES8 Alto, Katie Jeffries-Harris (katie@voces8.com) and Ann Wright (ann@voces8.foundation), the VOCES8 Foundation’s Director of Education.
Applications for the 2025-26 VOCES8 UK Scholars Programme are now open. Click the link below to find out how to apply.