Eric Whitacre Singers

Eric Whitacre Singers
Name	Eric Whitacre Singers
Origin	London, United Kingdom
Genre	Choral
Years active	2010s–present
Associated acts	Eric Whitacre, National Youth Choir of Great Britain, BBC Singers
Current members	Professional chamber choir drawn from UK and international singers

Eric Whitacre Singers is a professional chamber choir founded by Eric Whitacre to present contemporary choral repertoire and large-scale projects. The ensemble brings together singers and soloists from institutions such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Royal College of Music to perform works by living composers and canonical choral figures. Combining studio recording work, concert tours, and educational residencies, the group occupies a prominent place among ensembles engaged with modern choral idioms and multimedia presentation.

History

The ensemble emerged after the international success of Eric Whitacre's virtual choir projects and grew from collaborations with organizations including the Royal Albert Hall, BBC Proms, and Los Angeles Philharmonic. Early incarnations rehearsed in London venues such as St Martin-in-the-Fields and partnered with choral institutions like the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal College of Music. The choir's development was influenced by modern programming trends established by groups like the Tallis Scholars, Monteverdi Choir, and King's College Choir, Cambridge, while also drawing on contemporary commissioning practices exemplified by ensembles such as Alarm Will Sound and Ensemble Modern.

Membership and notable performers

Membership comprises professional singers recruited from ensembles and conservatoires, including alumni from the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. Soloists and frequent collaborators have included performers associated with the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, London Symphony Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. Conductors and artistic advisors connected to the group range from figures affiliated with the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Los Angeles Master Chorale, and the Cleveland Orchestra to composers and choral directors from the New York Philharmonic and the Washington National Cathedral music program. The roster often overlaps with singers from the BBC Singers, Concerto Köln, and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment for specific projects.

Repertoire and recordings

The ensemble's repertoire emphasizes contemporary choral works by living composers including Eric Whitacre, Ola Gjeilo, Morten Lauridsen, John Tavener, and Arvo Pärt, alongside arrangements of pieces by Gustav Holst, Benjamin Britten, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Thomas Tallis. The choir has recorded studio albums for labels associated with the Decca Music Group, Sony Classical, and the Hyperion Records catalog, releasing tracks that feature compositions premiered at venues like Royal Albert Hall and recordings linked to productions at the BBC Proms. Recording projects include choral cycles, film soundtrack sessions with studios collaborating with the London Symphony Orchestra and historic liturgical settings tied to the Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral choral traditions.

Performances and tours

Concert appearances span major international venues such as Royal Festival Hall, Wembley Arena, Barbican Centre, and the Lincoln Center in New York, with festival engagements at the BBC Proms, Edinburgh International Festival, and the Aix-en-Provence Festival. The ensemble has toured across Europe, North America, and Asia, performing in cities like Paris, Berlin, New York City, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Seoul. Collaborations for staged projects placed the choir on programs alongside orchestras such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the group has participated in multimedia presentations with the Royal Opera House and film festivals showcasing contemporary music film scores.

Collaborations and commissions

The choir has commissioned works from composers across diverse backgrounds, partnering with institutions such as the Royal Philharmonic Society, BBC Radio 3, and the Arts Council England. Notable commissioned composers and collaborators include Eric Whitacre (self-commissioned works), Jennifer Higdon, Eric Whitacre collaborator Olafur Arnalds, Max Richter, Eric Whitacre collaborator Hans Zimmer (in choral sessions), Kevin Puts, and Tarik O'Regan. Educational and community collaborations have involved projects with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, Goldsmiths, University of London, and outreach programs aligned with the British Council and international choral festivals such as the World Symposium on Choral Music.

Awards and critical reception

Critical response in publications like The Guardian, The Times (London), and Gramophone (magazine) has highlighted the ensemble's precision, blend, and contemporary programming, often comparing their textural clarity to established choirs such as the Monteverdi Choir and the Tallis Scholars. The group's recordings and performances have been nominated for industry accolades including Grammy Awards, BBC Music Magazine Awards, and honors from the Royal Philharmonic Society. Reviews in periodicals such as The New York Times and The Telegraph (UK) have praised the choir's role in popularizing contemporary choral repertoire and in advancing large-scale participatory projects associated with Eric Whitacre's virtual choirs.

Category:Chamber choirs Category:Contemporary classical music groups