VOCES8 UK Scholars 2023-24

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

• Fully-funded place on the VOCES8 Summer School at 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 2023-24 UK Scholars’ performance of ‘Jubilate Deo’ by Giovanni Gabrieli below and find the 2022-23 UK Scholars’ performance of Vivanco’s ‘Veni, dilecte mi’ at the bottom of the page.

Last year’s 2022-23 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. Following this, the Scholars were invited to join VOCES8 and friends to record a number of concerts for the VOCES8 Foundation’s online festival LIVE from London, including Christopher Tin’s The Lost Birds, Handel’s Messiah and a mixed concert of Christmas repertoire titled ‘Winter Wonderland’.

In April, the Scholars reconvened for a weekend of masterclasses, comprising an ensemble workshop with Ben Parry and a solo masterclass with Carolyn Sampson. Between the weekend course and the last of their scholarship engagements with VOCES8 at Milton Abbey, they were invited to participate in rehearsals and recordings for two further LIVE from London productions, to attend an exclusive online audio and visual media course run for the UK and US Scholars, as well as a seminar on tax accounting as a freelance musician, and to participate in a vocal massage workshop with Kate Valentine. Throughout their Scholar season, members of the programme also participated in around 25 days of education workshops and education training days led by the VOCES8 Foundation.

Milton Abbey 2023 saw the Scholars performing in multiple concerts side-by-side with VOCES8, the pinnacle of which was a performance of Frank Martin’s Mass for Double Choir, interspersed with renaissance motets. They also prepared and performed a hugely successful first half of a concert as their own ensemble, presenting repertoire they’d been working on throughout their scholarship year and a composition by one of the Scholars themselves. Alongside these concerts, the Scholars performed step out solos from Handel’s Israel in Egypt accompanied by the Academy of Ancient Music at the final Gala Concert, and led warm-ups for the 170 strong amateur chorus.

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. 

Applicants must be 21 years of age or above as of September 2024. There is deliberately no set upper age limit to the programme, as we recognise that different singers develop at different times. The programme is fully-funded for all travel and accommodation within the UK. You do not have to be resident in the UK to apply for the UK programme, but we cannot guarantee to cover the cost of international flights.

Applications for the 2024-25 VOCES8 UK and US Scholar Programmes are now Closed. Watch this space for more information about or 2025 - 2026 programme.

Back to VOCES8 Scholars