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| Kings Singers | |
|---|---|
| Name | Kings Singers |
| Origin | Cambridge, England |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Genres | Choral, a cappella, jazz, classical, pop |
| Labels | EMI, Decca, Signum, PolyGram, Telarc |
Kings Singers
The Kings Singers are a British professional a cappella ensemble founded in 1968 in Cambridge, England, known for blending Renaissance polyphony, English madrigals, jazz arrangements, and contemporary composition. They have collaborated with composers, conductors, ensembles, and institutions across Europe, North America, and Asia, and have influenced vocal chamber music practice at conservatoires and festivals. Their work spans studio recordings, live festivals, educational residencies, and commissions that intersect with institutions such as the BBC, Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall.
The ensemble was established by alumni of King's College, Cambridge in 1968, drawing on choral traditions associated with Herbert Howells, Gustav Holst, and the liturgical calendar of Evensong services. Early influences included ensembles such as the Tallis Scholars, Tallis Consort, and the Swingle Singers, while pedagogical models referenced figures like Edward J. Dent and David Willcocks. During the 1970s and 1980s they engaged with contemporary composers including Sir Michael Tippett, Benjamin Britten, Arvo Pärt, Olivier Messiaen, and György Ligeti, commissioning works and arrangements. They developed relationships with broadcasters such as the BBC, record companies including EMI Classics and Decca Records, and presenters at venues like Royal Festival Hall and Royal Albert Hall. Tours brought them to festivals including the Aix-en-Provence Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, Salzburg Festival, and collaborations on projects with orchestras like the London Symphony Orchestra and conductors such as Simon Rattle and Sir Colin Davis.
Membership has changed through successive line-ups, featuring countertenors, tenors, baritones, and basses drawn from conservatoires such as the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Juilliard School, and Royal Northern College of Music. Notable members have included singers who later worked with institutions like the English National Opera, BBC Singers, Royal Opera House, and ensembles such as The Sixteen, Fretwork, and King's College Choir, Cambridge. Artistic directors, arrangers, and collaborators have included figures associated with Oxford University, Cambridge University, and professional networks spanning the European Choral Association and American Choral Directors Association. Management and production teams have liaised with agencies including IMG Artists, ASKonas Holt, and labels like Signum Classics.
Their repertoire ranges from Renaissance polyphony by Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, and Orlando Gibbons to Baroque works by Henry Purcell and George Frideric Handel, and on to Romantic and modern repertoire by Franz Schubert, Gabriel Fauré, Maurice Ravel, and Igor Stravinsky. They are noted for arrangements of popular repertoire by artists such as The Beatles, Paul McCartney, Sting, Elton John, and Stevie Wonder, as well as jazz-inflected material connected to figures like George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, and Miles Davis. Contemporary commissions and premieres have come from composers including Caroline Shaw, Eric Whitacre, John Rutter, Knox, Gavin Bryars, and David Lang. Stylistically they synthesize techniques from early music ensembles like Pro Cantione Antiqua and vocal jazz groups like The Real Group, integrating diction practices from OTTERBEIN-style choral techniques and blending microphone practice used by pop ensembles such as Take That and Queen.
The ensemble's discography includes recordings on EMI Classics, Decca Records, Telarc, Philips Records, and Signum Records, encompassing albums of Gregorian chant, madrigal anthologies, Christmas collections, and crossover projects. Landmark releases feature interpretations of Byrd and Tallis alongside contemporary commissions and arrangements of Beatles songs and jazz standards. The Kings Singers have produced live recordings at venues like Wigmore Hall and studio albums recorded in collaboration with producers linked to Abbey Road Studios and engineers associated with Decca Studios. Their recordings have been distributed by international partners including Universal Music Group, Sony Classical, and independent boutique labels.
They have toured extensively, performing at venues and festivals such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Sydney Opera House, Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, Berlin Konzerthaus, and the Royal Albert Hall. International festival appearances include Glastonbury Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Ravinia Festival, Tanglewood, and the BBC Proms. Collaborations span orchestras and conductors including Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and maestros such as Zubin Mehta and Riccardo Muti. They have undertaken residencies and workshops at institutions like the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, Curtis Institute of Music, and universities including Yale University and University of Oxford.
The ensemble has received awards and nominations from bodies such as the Grammy Awards, Gramophone Awards, and Ivor Novello Awards, and honors from organizations including the Royal Philharmonic Society and the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. They have been featured in broadcasts by the BBC and NPR, and awarded fellowships and honorary degrees by institutions such as University of Cambridge, Royal College of Music, and Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Recognition also includes invitations to state and cultural events hosted by institutions like Buckingham Palace and cultural ministries in countries including France, Germany, and Japan.
Educational work encompasses workshops, masterclasses, and residencies with conservatoires and universities such as the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, New England Conservatory, and Juilliard School. They run educational projects and summer schools hosted alongside festivals like Glastonbury Festival Education, Edinburgh International Festival Learning, and choral initiatives connected to the European Choral Association. Outreach includes mentorship programs for youth choirs affiliated with BBC Proms Youth Choir, commissions for community ensembles, and collaborations with organizations such as Sing Up and national arts councils including the Arts Council England.
Category:British a cappella groups Category:Choirs established in 1968