VOCES8 Scholars
“It has been a truly transformative year, which has given me so much motivation, clarity and confidence in the career path I’ve chosen. Stepping out of university last year and pursuing singing full-time was completely fresh and somewhat daunting, but being able to work so closely with industry leaders in all disciplines has been utterly inspirational, and I’ve loved every single second of it! ”
As part of VOCES8’s mission to inspire and champion the next generation of artists, we are proud to offer the VOCES8 Scholars Programme – a unique training opportunity for outstanding young musicians. Each year, the programme selects eight singers in the UK and twelve singers in the US who show exceptional promise in choral and small ensemble vocal music.
With tutoring from VOCES8 and leading figures in the classical music industry, the programme offers a 360-degree view of life as a professional – equipping Scholars with the skills and tools needed to thrive in a modern, evolving industry.
New to 2025, we are excited to expand our UK Scholars programme to include a new pathway for audio and visual technicians – providing hands-on training to the next generation of behind-the-scenes creatives.
“...it was a brilliant training year about the industry and it was one of my best decisions to go for the scheme. It has been career changing for me - leading to singing work in different countries, as well as giving me the confidence to successfully sing for professional ensembles such as the BBC Singers and London Voices and undertake various recording projects with the VOCES8 Foundation Choir.”
VOCES8 with UK Scholars
Graduates of the UK programme may be invited to join the VOCES8 Scholars Ensemble – an exciting, new professional touring ensemble.
Support the Next Generation of Vocal Talent
Your donation to the VOCES8 Foundation supports our broad education initiatives, from community learning and participation, to professional development. This includes the VOCES8 Scholars Programme, which helps outstanding young musicians and technicians launch impactful careers in vocal music.
In the UK, the 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. The US Programme is led by Paul Smith (paul@voces8.foundation), CEO of The VOCES8 Foundation and former baritone in VOCES8, and Erik Jacobson (erik@voces8.foundation), Managing Director of The VOCES8 Foundation USA and Lyyra Creative Director.
“The whole team has been so willing to help and support us, both as a cohort and individually. On top of all that, I’ve really appreciated being treated as a young professional; learning through working within the Foundation as part of the education team, Scholars Ensemble or Foundation Choir. I’ll be carrying all I’ve learnt and all I’ve experienced this year for the rest of my career, and I’m so grateful for that.”
“Being part of the VOCES8 UK Scholars has been very helpful in my professional development. I’ve received valuable career guidance and had opportunities to make recordings which have helped me to build my portfolio for self-promotion. The VOCES8 Foundation is very supportive, full of friendly and encouraging people who want to support early career artists.”