Acclaimed British A Cappella Group VOCES8 Comes To Philadelphia's LiveConnections

British ensemble VOCES8 takes a cappella singing to a new level. Called "impeccable" (Gramophone) and "slickest of the lot" (BBC Radio 3), the 8-voice ensemble performs everything from Renaissance polyphony to contemporary commissions.

On Sunday, March 4 at 3PM, the acclaimed group will come to Philadelphia as part of LiveConnections' "Season of Community Collaboration" at World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut Street).

"VOCES8 is one of the most compelling groups I have ever heard live," said Mary Javian, Concert Curator for the LiveConnections Presents series. "The founders trained at Westminster Abbey and come from a choral tradition that is centuries old, yet the group has a delightfully fresh take on music from the past and present."

This concert kicks off a two-year LiveConnections initiative called "A Song Everyone Can Sing," focused on accessibility and inclusion through singing. VOCES8 will be joined by choirs from C.W. Henry School, a public school in Mount Airy; Our Lady of Confidence Day School, which serves students ages 15-21 with intellectual disabilities; and Germantown Recovery Community, which serves individuals receiving therapeutic, mental health and recovery services.

The three community choirs participated in workshops with VOCES8 co-founder Paul Smith in the fall. Smith's innovative "VOCES8 Method" uses rhythm and sound to enhance literacy and numeracy, and is designed to accommodate a wide range of ages and abilities. Smith returns this winter to conduct follow-up workshops in preparation for the performance. VOCES8 will also present two LiveConnections Bridge Sessions for 250 students from public schools on March 5, 2018.

"These concerts blur the line between audiences and performers," said Javian. "At LiveConnections we believe the communities we work with, including youth from public schools and individuals with disabilities, are all potential collaborators." Executive

Director Melinda Steffy adds, "Many people with disabilities face barriers that prevent them from participating in the arts. With our 'A Song Everyone Can Sing' initiative, LiveConnections aims to create inclusive spaces that allow a wide range of people to make music together."

Full details and bios are below.

Tickets ($20/$10 for students) are currently on sale at liveconnections.org.

The British vocal ensemble VOCES8 is now established as one of the world's most versatile and best-loved singing groups. Touring extensively throughout Europe, North America and Asia, the ensemble performs a repertory from Renaissance polyphony to contemporary commissions and arrangements. In recent seasons, VOCES8 has performed at venues such as the Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Bridgewater Hall Manchester, Cité de la Musique Paris, Vienna Konzerthaus, Tokyo Opera City, National Concert Hall Taipei, National Centre for the Performing Arts Beijing, the Shanghai Concert Hall, Tel Aviv Opera House and Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall.

Artistic collaborations have included the Philharmonia Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, period ensembles Florilegium, L'Arpeggiata and Les Inventions, violinist HugoTicciati, cellist Matthew Sharp, and pianist/composers Jonathan Dove and Ola Gjeilo. VOCES8 has premiered commissions from Roxanna Panufnik, Alexander Levine, Alec Roth, Ben Parry, Ola Gjeilo, Philip Stopford and Thomas Hewitt Jones. The group also performs bespoke arrangements written by Arranger in Residence, Jim Clements. For more information, visit voces8.com.

ABOUT LIVECONNECTIONS: Founded in 2008, LiveConnections creates unique programs that inspire learning and build community through collaborative music-making. We approach live music as an essential social and educational experience that helps create engaged and well-rounded global citizens. Bridge Sessions, our signature interactive educational performances, blend live music with hands-on activities, introducing students from Philadelphia public schools and people with disabilities to diverse musical cultures. Our in-school and after-school residencies provide students from under-resourced schools with sustained, in-depth music-making experiences. In addition, our critically acclaimed LiveConnections Presents concert series features unique artist collaborations and boundary-crossing new music. We are a nonprofit organization in residence at World Cafe Live. More at liveconnections.org.

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