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British singing sensation VOCES8 at the Green Center
VOCES8, the a cappella sensation from the United Kingdom, travels to DePauw University to perform in Kresge Auditorium on Wednesday, Oct. 10. The concert is the second in a new series of six guest artist performances scheduled to take place at the Green Center over the coming season.
Mark McCoy, dean of the School of Music, has invited the student ensemble DePauwCappella to be the opening act on the program, which will start earlier than usual at 7 p.m.
"One of the most impressive aspects of a VOCES8 concert is the depth and breadth of the repertoire. From 17th century madrigals to the music of Ben Folds, they sing a wide variety of music--and sing it all devastatingly well," McCoy said.
John Neal writing for www.singers.com praises the ensemble as being one of the best a cappella groups he's ever heard "be it choral, vocal, jazz, pop, classical, spiritual--or whatever genre you want to put them in."
Barry Millington of the Evening Standard recalls "searing chromatic harmonies" that stunned a London audience into an "appreciative silence."
Now in its fifth year as an international touring company, VOCES8 will showcase several of its hit CD releases on the program at DePauw, such as George Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm" and the Marvin Hamlisch ballad "Nobody Does it Better" from the classic James Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me."
"The group also has a rendition of Leonard Bernstein's 'Maria' from the musical West Side Story, which they interpret so beautifully that it's guaranteed to give goose bumps to even the most stoic listeners," said Suzanne Hassler, communications coordinator for the School of Music. "There will also be a couple of brand new arrangements, including a gorgeous version of the folk song 'Shenandoah.'"
An extensive touring schedule has taken the ensemble from Africa to Asia, throughout Europe and a half dozen times now to the U.S. Between flying around the world, however, the group has still found the studio time to make a surprising number of recordings -- seven to date, including its newest release "In the Beginning," which has already sold out.
There is also "A Choral Tapestry," "Aces High," an album of Bach Motets, "Evensong," "From Gibbons to Gershwin" and a brand new Christmas album.
Also fresh from the press is a new songbook by Edition Peters, which includes eight of the ensemble's favorite songs prepared by the ninth member of the VOCE 8, Jim Clements, the group's arranger.
Display copies of the songbook will be available Wednesday night, and anyone wanting to purchase a copy may order one after the concert.
As part of its outreach program, VOCES8 has also worked with more than 10,000 students in the U.S. -- more than 7,000 in 2012 alone.
Senior Emma Scherer, who is a member of DePauwCappella, is particularly enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with and to perform for them.
"We are honored to be opening for VOCES8 this Wednesday. DPC has been working to increase our outreach, and we are thrilled to perform at such an amazing event. Every member of DPC loves to sing, and we have all been working hard to represent DePauw well at this concert," Scherer said.
General admission tickets are $10 in advance, $12 day of the event; all students and seniors over 65 are free. Learn more about obtaining tickets at www.depauw.edu/music/tickets or call 765.658.4827.
For more information on VOCES 8, visit www.voces8.com.