The King's Singers

David Hurley (countertenor); Timothy Wayne-Wright (countertenor); Paul Phoenix (tenor); Philip Lawson (baritone); Christopher Gabbitas (baritone); Stephen Connolly (bass)

Electronic press kit

Described by The Times as a group that has “stayed in character over four decades, yet retuned itself to the times” and by Gramophone as  “enchanting the ear from first to last note” The King’s Singers are truly remarkable.  They continue to be one of the most sought-after and critically acclaimed vocal ensembles in the world, performing a rich and varied repertoire from Gesualdo to György Ligeti and Michael Bublé. Internationally recognised for their work in the classical field, in early music in particular, they retain the sparkle that delights so many fans when they perform much loved numbers from the lighter end of the repertoire. Whatever the music The King’s Singers are instantly recognisable for their spot-on intonation, their impeccable vocal blend, the flawless articulation of the text and incisive timing.

The King’s Singers are David Hurley (countertenor, 20th season 09/10), Paul Phoenix (tenor, 13th season 09/10), Philip Lawson (baritone, 16th season 09/10), Christopher Gabbitas (baritone, 6th season 09/10), Stephen Connolly (bass, 23rd season 09/10) and new recruit 26 year-old Timothy Wayne-Wright (countertenor). The ensemble has a huge range of some three and a half octaves, from Connolly’s low C up to Hurley’s high F.  There have only ever been twenty-two King’s Singers including the current six, very few given the demanding nature of the full-time job which requires a unique blend of musicianship, vocal ability and charisma, not to mention the stamina to be on tour for nine months of the year.  The repertoire in a single concert might range from Renaissance polyphony, madrigals and world or folk music to contemporary classical or contemporary pop, because the ethos of The King’s Singers has always been that it’s all about the music.   Whatever the genre, they will find a way to arrange it successfully for their six voices.  “It makes learning the repertoire tough but rewarding,” says Tim who joined in January 2009: “I can hardly believe how much music I have learned from memory in such a short space of time, plus we all learn spoken introductions in the local language, and often share a joke with the audience – a real King’s Singers hallmark.”  Unusually for a group with such a demanding schedule the six members continue to share directing responsibilities and develop their own projects. Each year the group travels around the world giving around 120 concerts as well as recording, television work, teaching and masterclasses.

During their 2009/10 season The King’s Singers will give performances in cities stretching from London to San Francisco, Beijing, Jerusalem, Paris and Salzburg.  Their extensive touring schedule will take them to the USA, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Finland and to tour and perform in Germany with the WDR Big Band for a special Christmas Oratorio project during November 2009.   They will also give concerts in Japan, China, Taipei and South Korea.

With a discography of over 100 recordings The King’s Singers have garnered both awards and significant critical acclaim. Their recent studio album Simple Gifts was awarded a Grammy in 2009.  An EP titled From the Heart including John Brunning’s Pie Jesu and a special re-working of My Heart is a Holy Place by contemporary US composer Patricia van Ness will be made available in the US in October 2009 (February 2010 everywhere else).  March 2010 will see the release of The King’s Singers new album Swimming over London, a disc that crosses genre borders in a way similar to Simple Gifts, using smooth jazz as the inspiration for new pieces and arrangements with The King’s Singers signature style and standards. A remarkable world premiere recording of music for Vespers by Pachelbel directed by Kah-Ming Ng with the Charivari Agréable Ensemble will be come out in June 2010.  While touring the USA The King’s Singers will make an album with renowned Concordia College Choir, Minnesota, for release in Autumn 2010 which will include fortieth anniversary commissions The Stolen Child by Eric Whitacre, High Flight and A Thanksgiving by Bob Chilcott.

The King’s Singers maintain a deep commitment to new choral music and have commissioned over 200 works from a host of prominent contemporary composers including Richard Rodney Bennett, Luciano Berio, Peter Maxwell Davies, György Ligeti, Steve Martland, Gian Carlo Menotti, Krzysztof Penderecki, Ned Rorem, John Rutter, Gunther Schuller, Toru Takemitsu, and John Tavener.  This season The King’s Singers will premiere works by Ivan Moody, Gabriela Lena Frank, John McCabe, Bob Chilcott and Eric Whitacre.

The King’s Singers have an extraordinary history on television.  The ensemble is a great favourite of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, with whom it performed as part of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. In 2007, The King’s Singers appeared as special guests on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s Christmas Concerts to a combined live audience of 80,000 - a performance that was television broadcast on PBS across the US and is available on DVD.  Following their televised BBC Proms performance at the Royal Albert Hall, London (also available on DVD) in 2008 and appearances on BBC Breakfast television in celebration of their fortieth anniversary year, The King’s Singers will appear on Songs of Praise on BBC television (BBC One) three times this season, including a Christmas special in December 2009.  In its early years the group was famed for its regular appearances on the Nana Mouskouri Show (once with the legendary actor, comedian and musician, Dudley Moore), Ronnie Corbett’s programme and the Royal Variety Show.  In the US televised performances include an Emmy Award-winning ABC Christmas special with Julie Andrews, Plácido Domingo, and John Denver, and they have made numerous appearances on NBC’s Tonight Show and Today Show.  Recent DVD releases such as the documentary From Byrd to The Beatles won them fans from South America to Singapore, and they have appeared on television in Korea, Japan and China as well as multiple television and radio appearances across Europe.

In addition to their sold-out concerts worldwide, The King’s Singers share their artistry through numerous workshops and master classes.  The King’s Singers have clocked up phenomenal sales of sheet music through three publishers over the years with over two million pieces of print in circulation with one publisher alone.  Currently signed to US giant Hal Leonard, The King’s Singers arrangements are sung by schools, college choirs and amateur and professional ensembles the world over.  Two DVDs are available through Hal Leonard: King’s Singers: A Workshop features excerpts from master classes and concerts and follows the earlier video The Art of The King’s Singers, a documentary-style program illustrating the everyday life of the sextet on the road, as well as in rehearsal, performance and masterclass settings. 

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