Our Latest News. http://www.kingssingers.com On Saturday, 24 July The King's Singers' album Pachelbel Vespers, aamp;nbsp;collaboration with the period instrument ensemble Charivari Agramp;eacute;able and their director Kah-Ming Ng was featured on The Early Music Show on BBC Radio 3. amp;nbsp;The programme includes 5 tracks from the album as well as an interview with Kah-Ming Ng about the style of Pachelbel's vocal music. He also shares how the manuscripts came to reside in England, and his resurrection of the music from Oxford's Bodleian Library 300 years after they were written. Listen to the programmeamp;nbsp;here.amp;nbsp; http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Jul 25 2010 00:12:30 GMT The King's Singers return to the road today for a weeklong tour of Austria and Germany. We will perform in St Georgen, Austria tomorrow evening at the Church of St Georgen. This week we'll also perform in Millstatt, Weissenburg, Weimar, and will close the tour in Doberlug on Sunday 25th July.amp;nbsp; http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Jul 19 2010 00:12:30 GMT A few weeks ago, Jonathan Howard spoke with the Oxford Times about his appointment to The King's Singers. Jonathan (Johnny) will become the new bass in the group when Stephen Connolly retires in September.amp;nbsp; You can view the article on the Oxford Times website here.amp;nbsp; Bass Jonathan Howard talks about his recruitment to The King's Singers 14th July 2010 By Giles Woodforde Was it my imagination, or was there just the faintest raising of eyebrows from the surrounding crowd as Jonathan Howard and I met in the gleaming, marbled foyer of Londonamp;rsquo;s Langham Hotel? We were certainly more casually dressed than the mobile-hugging business executives present. But the world of smart clothes (at least in the evenings) and good hotels will soon become commonplace to Jonathan (always called Johnny), for he is about to join the Kingamp;rsquo;s Singers, since 1968 one of the worldamp;rsquo;s most successful choral ensembles. To secure such a plum job at the age of 23, you might well imagine that Johnnyamp;rsquo;s life has been devoted to singing ever since he could put one word and musical note in front of another. But the reality is a little different. amp;ldquo;I started formal singing lessons when I was 15, and really enjoyed it amp;mdash; it sounds awful, but loads of my really cool friends, and lots of attractive girls at school had the same teacher, so I wanted to have lessons with her too. That was really the main impetus for starting.amp;rdquo; Johnny cheerfully and frankly admits to applying for a choral scholarship and membership of New College Choir amp;ldquo;because I was told it would make it easier to get inamp;rdquo;. Determined to have a life outside music at Oxford, he won medals for amp;ldquo;Intercollegiate Trampoliningamp;rdquo;, and was chosen to appear on the BBC3 series Clever v Stupid. amp;ldquo;The producers sent an email round to all the Oxford and Cambridge JCR presidents asking if they knew anyone with a really strange brain who would probably enjoy being on TV. We had an initial meeting in London, and they asked: amp;lsquo;What marks your intelligence out?amp;rsquo; I replied that I love to learn lists amp;mdash; I rattled my way through the Kings of England, and the States of America. They also gave us logic and intuitive problems, and I managed them. Then there was a weird team-building day, when they saw how you worked as a unit. I felt a bit of a farce, everyone else was seriously clever. I felt like saying: amp;lsquo;Iamp;rsquo;m just a boy with a 2:1 classics degreeamp;rsquo;.amp;rdquo; Johnny further admits to one or two brushes with amp;lsquo;authorityamp;rsquo; at Oxford for an apparent lack of commitment to singing, but it almost seems as if his destiny was being mapped out. He was a founding member of the Oxford Clerks, who are very much modelled on the Kingamp;rsquo;s Singers in their a capella singing style, and broad range of repertoire. So surely this was very good training? amp;ldquo;Absolutely. I think it introduced me to the concept of ensemble singing. Even with New College Choir at a size of 30, thereamp;rsquo;s no way youamp;rsquo;re going to get an absolute blend. When there are just six of you, itamp;rsquo;s so much more important that you pay attention to everyone else, and to the sound that youamp;rsquo;re making. That really helped me during the audition process for the Kingamp;rsquo;s Singers.amp;rdquo; It would be a considerable understatement to say that vacancies in the Kingamp;rsquo;s Singers line-up are rare: the group has had only 20 members in its 42-year existence, an extraordinary record. Surely, I suggested to Johnny, there must have been thousands of applicants when it was announced that bass Stephen Connolly was stepping down after 23 years? amp;ldquo;You canamp;rsquo;t really apply for the job. They send emails out to a number of important music directors around the country, asking them to recommend anyone they think might be suitable. amp;ldquo;I was the very first candidate on the very first day. It was terrifying, but also hugely fun. I didnamp;rsquo;t in a million years imagine I would get past the first round, but I thought: amp;lsquo;How can you squander a once in a lifetime opportunity to sing with these guys?amp;rsquo; Five of us made it through to the final round, when we were given eight pieces to learn, five with music, and three off by heart amp;mdash; one was sent only two days beforehand to see if we could learn things quickly.amp;rdquo; Johnny thinks he won through because his voice is young enough to mould into the unique Kingamp;rsquo;s Singers sound. His enthusiasm for his new job is plainly immense, even though there was one misgiving to start with: amp;ldquo;I was scared initially because musicians can be really weird. Itamp;rsquo;s a dream job, but, I wondered, are they all going to be loopy? And theyamp;rsquo;re not, which is great.amp;rdquo; http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Jul 15 2010 00:12:30 GMT On 12 July, we performed in the beautiful concert hall at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas to an enthusiastic audience. They joined us post-concert in the lobby where we had the opportunity to sign CDs and chat with fans, including The Summer'Singers. A few images from the concert are below. Please visit The Summer'Singers' amp;nbsp;website for the full gallery.amp;nbsp; http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Jul 13 2010 00:12:30 GMT On Saturday we will perform at the Yatsugatake Highland Lodge Concert Hall in Japan and will travel from there to Kuala Lumpur for the last concert of this Asia tour. It's been 3 weeks since the tour began in Taiwan, and the tour has seen us travel through Taiwan, China, Korea, Japan and will come to a close on Monday in Malaysia. Below is a picture of the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas Concert Hall, where we will perform on Monday.amp;nbsp; For those in the UK about to head off on summer holidays, don't forget to save the dates for our London concerts at Cadogan Hall before you go. Buy that special Christmas treat for our Joy to the World concert on 19 December. Share in the gorgeous repertoire which contrasts romantic invocations of night by 19th century German composers with works by Britten and the celebrated German harmony group, the Comedian Harmonists, in our Nightsong programme on 22 October. Please join us. Tickets can be purchased at the Cadogan Hall Box office at 020 7730 4500 or at www.cadoganhall.com. amp;nbsp; http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Jul 09 2010 00:12:30 GMT To the many friends and fans in the United States who come to our concerts and stay in touch, Happy 4th of July from David, Tim, Paul, Philip, Chris and Stephen.amp;nbsp; http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Jul 04 2010 00:12:30 GMT The first time we listened to The Kingamp;rsquo;s Singers, we never realised that a cappella could be so mellowing. Wait, mellowing is an understatement. amp;lsquo;Beautifulamp;rsquo; is the word. It occurred to us that no instrument can perform such dulcet music better than the human voice. Named after Kingamp;rsquo;s College in Cambridge, this vocal ensemble was formed by six choral scholars in 1968, who have since been replaced with new choristers: David Hurley (countertenor), Timothy Wayne-Wright (countertenor), Paul Phoenix (tenor), Philip Lawson (baritone), Christopher Gabbitas (baritone) and Stephen Connolly (bass). The Kingamp;rsquo;s Singers seldom include musical instruments in their performances because their rich voices make up the various melodies. The tonal blend is compounded with soft falsettos and high-pitched vibratos, thus giving the music a chirpy edge whenever necessary. And when youamp;rsquo;re too engrossed in the harmony, the bass humming in the background suddenly interjects with dashes of fortissimo to create another sonorous musical surprise. Itamp;rsquo;s amazing how their diction, phrasing and balance can be executed so dexterously. Everyone in the group knows exactly when to sing their parts or drag the music to a quicker pace. Playing to different moods, The Kingamp;rsquo;s Singer can either belt out a gleeful choral presentation or set you weeping. Listening to their poignant version of amp;lsquo;Danny Boyamp;rsquo; for example may just move you to tears. The Kingamp;rsquo;s Singers are truly a legacy and their superb vocal arrangements will surely enchant all music lovers out there. Kong Wai Yeng View the article on the Time Out Kuala Lumpur website here. http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Jun 30 2010 00:12:30 GMT Jonathan Howard, who will become the new bass when Stephen retires from the group in September, writes about what itamp;rsquo;s like to audition to become a Kingamp;rsquo;s Singer, hear that you have been appointed, start to learn and rehearse the groupamp;rsquo;s vast repertoire. In the first of this series, Johnny talks about preparation musically and mentally. Click here for the article in our new amp;lsquo;Focusamp;rsquo; section. http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Jun 29 2010 00:12:30 GMT 24 June 2010 The King's Singers -- a world-renowned British vocal ensemble -- performed to a packed house in Taipei on Wednesday night. The concert was held at the National Concert Hall in Taipei. It was the group's ninth time performing in Taiwan.amp;nbsp;During the show, the group performed a southern Taiwanese folk song along with the Mandarin favorite 'In that place wholly faraway'. The King's Singers also performed in Pingtung County in the south on Tuesday.amp;nbsp;They also visited a local elementary school to instruct the school's aboriginal choir. The King's Singers was founded in 1968 and is considered one of the world's most celebrated vocal groups. View the article on Radio Taiwan International's website here. http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Jun 25 2010 00:12:30 GMT Taiwan News,amp;nbsp;23 June 2010 The King's Singers, a British vocal ensemble, will hold a concert tonight at the National Concert Hall in Taipei. After a news conference in Taipei yesterday morning, they performed in Pingtung County last night and visited the Taiwu Elementary School to instruct the school's aboriginal choir. Founded in 1968 and considered one of the world's most celebrated vocal groups, the a cappella ensemble now has six artists: two countertenors, one tenor, two baritones and one bass. They are David Hurley, Timothy Wayne-Wright, Paul Phoenix, Philip Lawson, Christopher Gabbitas and Stephen Connolly. But Connolly, dubbed amp;quot;Mr. Bean,amp;quot; will leave the chorus for his new job as a professor. amp;quot;This concert in Taipei will be my final performance after celebrating my 22nd anniversary with the ensemble. I really missed Taiwanese delicious food such as chicken feet and stinky tofu,amp;quot; Connolly said, adding that Jonathan Howard, 23, will be his successor as bass and embark on his singing season with the group in October. At yesterday's news event, Hurley said that six singers hold 120-130 world tour concerts per year and that they always rehearse together two hours a day prior to performances. amp;quot;During our performances, we have no music conductors but six directors,amp;quot; he added. The ensemble has specialized in classical music, religious hymns and pop songs such as the Beatles' hits. The first-half program of tonight's concert contains renaissance, romantic and contemporary dance music as well as traditional folksongs. The second half includes a selection of their latest album titled Swimming Over London. They also plan to sing a couple of songs in Mandarin Chinese as encores. by Yali Chenamp;nbsp; Click hereamp;nbsp;to access the online article.amp;nbsp; amp;nbsp; http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Jun 23 2010 00:12:30 GMT Today we arrive in Taiwan for concerts in Pingtung and Taipei and from there we travel to China on Thursday. We will perform in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Be sure to check our blogs for the latest news on our Asia tour.amp;nbsp; http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Jun 21 2010 00:12:30 GMT On 17 June The King's Singers will be featured on the American Public Media show Performance Today.amp;nbsp;This performance was recorded at Spivey Hall in Morrow, GA on 7 November 2009. The performance may also be available for web-streaming on www.publicradiofan.com. Please tune in. amp;nbsp; http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Jun 16 2010 00:12:30 GMT We are thrilled to have won this most prestigiousCASA award. amp;nbsp;Take a look at the list of nominees and winners here. amp;nbsp; http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Jun 04 2010 00:12:30 GMT In April we posed the following question about Carl Theodorus Pachelbel: Question: When Johann Pachelbelamp;rsquo;s son, Carl Theodorus, emigrated from Germany, his travels brought him through the UK where he likely sold his fatheramp;rsquo;s Music for Vespers. amp;nbsp;In which country did Carl Theodorus (himself a composer, organist and harpsichordist) eventually settle? Answer:amp;nbsp;Carl Theodorus settled first in Newport, Rhode Island before settling permanently in Charleston, South Carolina in 1740.amp;nbsp; Congratulations to the lucky winners representing France, the USA and the UK. The winners were chosen at random from the pool of correct entries.amp;nbsp; Stay tuned for the next competition. amp;nbsp; amp;nbsp; http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Jun 02 2010 00:12:30 GMT The Kingamp;rsquo;s Singers, a six-man ensemble as renowned for their interpretations of early and contemporary vocal music as for their witty arrangements of popular music, have appointed a new bass. by Martin Cullingford Click hereamp;nbsp;for full article. http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 May 26 2010 00:12:30 GMT The Kingamp;rsquo;s Singers are delighted to announce that Jonathan Howard will become the new bass in the group when Stephen Connolly steps down in September 2010.amp;nbsp; Jonathan, who is 23 years old and a graduate of New College, Oxford, beat off stiff competition in the final round of auditions, held at the Royal Society of Musicians in London.amp;nbsp; Jonathan, a founding member of the Oxford Clerks amp;ndash; an a capella group modeled on The Kingamp;rsquo;s Singersamp;nbsp;amp;ndash;amp;nbsp;also plays violin, viola and piano, has taken to the stage in opera and drama, plays several sportsamp;nbsp;and even won medals at university for amp;lsquo;Intercollegiate Trampoliningamp;rsquo;.amp;nbsp;amp;nbsp;He was chosen as one of nine amp;lsquo;cleversamp;rsquo; to appear in the BBC3 series amp;lsquo;Clever v Stupidamp;rsquo; last Summeramp;nbsp;amp;ndash; not surprising as he did five and a half A Levels and speaks fluent German and French.amp;nbsp;His passion for classical music began at his school, Christamp;rsquo;s Hospital in Horsham, West Sussex,amp;nbsp;and he subsequently won a choral scholarship to New College where he read classics and participated in numerousamp;nbsp;tours and recordings with the renowned New College Choir. On learning that he had won the coveted job Jonathan said: amp;quot;It is an absolute dream-come-true for me to have the opportunity to perform for a living with such wonderful colleagues and singers, particularly since almost every small-consort or close-harmony venture I have done in the past has been inspired by their work. I am thrilled to accept the post, and cannot wait to start as a full-time member in October. Even now, I'm still in shock that this is actually happening.amp;quot; David said: amp;ldquo;Jonathan impressed us all with the quality of his voice, his musicality and ability to blend into The Kingamp;rsquo;s Singers' sound and style. His enthusiasm and his obvious enjoyment, along with his thorough preparation, made his audition an enjoyable experience for all of us. For me there is the added bonus of another Oxford graduate joining the line-up.amp;rdquo; Stephen, who leaves after 23 years to take on a new role as Head of Vocal Studies at the prestigious Cheltenham Ladiesamp;rsquo; College, said: amp;ldquo;I am thrilled that we have managed to find such an energized and talented musician as Johnny. He will be a real asset to the group and bring with him a wonderful timbre of voice as well as a freshness that will help propel the KS well into the future.amp;nbsp; I can't wait to hear him in concert.amp;rdquo; Philip said: amp;quot;Flexibility is the keynote with any potential King's Singer - the ability to change your individual voice inamp;nbsp;order to make the sound of the group work.amp;nbsp; Johnny has a special kind of awareness which made me thinkamp;nbsp; that he would slot in very quickly to the group's way of working.amp;rdquo; Jonathanamp;rsquo;s first concert with The Kingamp;rsquo;s Singers will be in Aix-les-Bains, France on 1st October. Stephen's last UK concert will be on 7 August, and his last performance with The King's Singers will be on 26 September in Bad Homburg, Germany. Our new album,amp;nbsp;Swimming Over London, which is Stephen Connollyamp;rsquo;s last complete album with the group, was released on 24 May.amp;nbsp; Below: Jonathan Howard with The King's Singers, courtesy of Simon Fernandez and Classic FM Magazine. http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 May 25 2010 00:12:30 GMT Today we are delighted to audition 4 very talented gentleman for the bass position within The King's Singers. amp;nbsp;After 23 years with The King's Singers, Stephen is retiring in September and will take a position as Head of Vocal Studies at Cheltenham Ladies College.amp;nbsp; In March we held the first round of auditions and have placed 5 names on the 'short list'. We will see 4 candidates today and one on 27 May. amp;nbsp;Watch this space for updates on our next member. http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 May 20 2010 00:12:30 GMT Our much anticipated album, 'Swimming over London'amp;nbsp;will be released world-wide on 1 June. This is a follow up album to the Grammy-Award winning 'Simple Gifts' and includes jazz-inspired hits as well as commissions by Mia Makaroff, Roger Treece, Ysaye M. Barnwell and former King's Singer Bob Chilcott. amp;nbsp; http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 May 05 2010 00:12:30 GMT This Sunday 2 May, The King's Singers will be featured on BBC One's Songs of Praise, performing two Salvation Army hymns, Breathe on Me, and All for Thee.amp;nbsp; On 22nd May the KS will join forces with the Salvation Army in a live performance at the Royal Albert Hall, London. For tickets, please visit the Royal Albert Hall website. http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Apr 26 2010 00:12:30 GMT We are pleased to announce the A Cappella Community Awards have nominated The King's Singers for an award in the 'Favorite Classical Group' category. Nominations are earned by votes from A Cappella Community Society (CASA) members, and winners will be announced on 1 June.amp;nbsp; http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Apr 26 2010 00:12:30 GMT The KS are driving to Copenhagen today for their performance at Tivoli Concert Hall. Stay tuned to Paul's blogs for updates from the road. http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Apr 23 2010 00:12:30 GMT The current travel chaos caused by the ash cloud from an Icelandic volcano will not stop The King's Singers from travelling to Copenhagen on Thursday for their concert series in Denmark over the weekend. Please visit David's blog for details. http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Apr 19 2010 00:12:30 GMT In anticipation of our upcoming concert of 'A German Vespers' on 29 April at Cadogan Hall, we are delighted to announce another CD competition.amp;nbsp; Be one of six lucky contestants randomly chosen from the group of correct answers and win a copy of our album Pachelbel Vespers, released last month on Signum Records. Question:amp;nbsp;When Johann Pachelbelamp;rsquo;s son, Carl Theodorus, emigrated from Germany, his travels brought him through the UK where he likely sold his fatheramp;rsquo;s Music for Vespers. amp;nbsp;In which country did Carl Theodorus (himself a composer, organist and harpsichordist) eventually settle? Please email your response to friends@kingssingers.com with your name and address by 31 May, 2010. Good luck. Why not join us on 29 April and be one of the first to hear this world premiere of Pachelbel's music for Vespers in over four centuries.amp;nbsp;Tickets can be purchased from the Cadogan Hall website, or by phoning +44 (0)20 7730 4500. We hope to see you there. amp;nbsp; http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Apr 15 2010 00:12:30 GMT Our new album Pachelbel Vespers has been chosen as May's disc of the month in Classic FM Magazine. Andrew Mellor's full article including an interview with David Hurley can be read in the May issue of the magazine, in newsstands now. Below are a few highlights. amp;quot;Three centuries on from the Vespers' creation, he [Kah-Ming Ng] summoned his own Baroque ensembleamp;nbsp;Charivari Agramp;eacute;able and vocal group The King's Singers to a Gloucestershire Church last June to breathe life into the Vespers for the first time since it was presented at St Sebald's Church in Nuremberg by the composer himself.amp;quot; amp;quot;His instrumental passages intricately weave the work's melodic themes around one another with the sort of ease you expect from Bach. And when two solo voices intone the 'Gloria' towards the end of the first Magnificat, they seem to become instruments themselves.amp;quot; amp;quot;invigorating, sensitive, heartfelt and gloriously melodious...Pachelbel sets out his stall as a composer of significant and individual talent.amp;quot; The King's Singers and Charivari Agramp;eacute;able will perform a concert of German Vespers with pieces from the new album live at Cadogan Hall on 29 April. Tickets are available at the Cadogan Hall Box Office on 020 7730 4500, or by visiting www.cadoganhall.com. amp;nbsp; amp;nbsp; amp;nbsp; amp;nbsp; amp;nbsp; http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Apr 12 2010 00:12:30 GMT Aamp;nbsp;few weeks ago we asked the question amp;quot;Composer Carlo Gesulado led quite a colourful life. What was the scandal surrounding his marriage to Maria d'Avalos?amp;quot; Gesualdo's first marriage ended with the death of his wife Maria d'Avalos. After discovering his wife was having an affair, Gesualdo hired a professional assasin to murder Maria and her lover. The medical report states Maria received 53 stab wounds, mostly to the lower regions of her body. Such was Gesualdo's outrage at her infidelity that he single-handedly felled a large portion of woodland on his estate. Congratulations to our two winners, representing the State of Qatar and the United Kingdom. http://www.kingssingers.com/news.php?nid=179 Apr 07 2010 00:12:30 GMT