VOCES8 and The King's Singers are on tour together right now — they're performing in the Netherlands as you read this. But before you catch whatever clip hits social media, go watch this first: VOCES8 & The King's Singers — Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) — Billy Joel, arr. Philip Lawson Three minutes and forty-five seconds. No instruments. Just 14 of the most trained singers alive, a Billy Joel song, and an arrangement by Philip Lawson (long-time King's Singers arranger who knows exactly what he's doing). Here's what I want you to actually listen for — not just feel, but listen: 1. They don't blend by making everyone sound the same. This is the trap that kills most ensemble singing. You iron out everything in the name of "blend" and end up with sonic oatmeal — technically inoffensive, completely forgettable. VOCES8 and the King's Singers have completely different ensemble cultures. VOCES8 is rooted in early music and classical choral practice — pure tone, minimal vibrato, the sound built around vertical tuning. The King's Singers have been doing everything from Byrd to The Beatles for 55+ years — their sound is warmer, more flexible, more conversational. Put them together and you'd expect a mess. Instead, they find a third thing. A shared tonal language that neither group would have landed on alone. That's not an accident. That's what happens when every singer in the room is actually listening instead of just performing their part. Listen: Right at the first chord. Notice how the attack is gentle on every voice. No one is pushing to assert their sound. They're all meeting in the middle. 2. Philip Lawson gives every voice a reason to exist. This arrangement is 14 voices. That's a lot of people to keep busy without turning into mud. Lawson doesn't double parts lazily — every voice has its own melodic identity. The bass line has shape. The inner voices move. The upper voices aren't just holding long notes and waiting.

— track #5 on WINDOWS, vol 1. This month, I’ll be sharing a few “behind the scenes” clips to spotlight some favorite memories from the recording & writing process of this first EP (released 1 year ago!) with @voces8 — and in this case, @ringmastersqtet #windows #reimaginings #voces8 #choralmusic A short clip of the epic ending https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CFpbDtJJZ/

That name hit me differently than it probably hit you. ;-) I also sang with the Toronto Northern Lights. Different country, different style, different era. Same name. Same relentless pursuit of something most people don't understand. Dude... listen to 6:10 holllyyyyyy! Durham University's Northern Lights just dominated the ICCA UK Finals at the New Wimbledon Theatre — fourth consecutive championship, sixth overall. In a competition full of talented collegiate groups, they keep showing up and they keep winning. Now they head to the World Finals in New York on April 25. Read the full story: https://www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/latest-news/2026/03/northern-lights-international-championship-of-collegiate-a-cappella-2026/

I joined a chorus at 14 and the director had us over for a chat and played us some tunes THIS: A Nightingale in Berkely Square - is what did it...I had NEVER heard before. My buddy Ralph and I looked at each other like she was playing magic... we played it 964 times in a row "trying" terrrriiibly to sing along... That was 40 years ago and my life has changed course maaaany times with the help of singing. You? Live Performance

I had been a barbershopper for about 45 minutes with a chorus on the South Shore of Montreal (South Shore Saints) so when they said this "Big chorus from Texas" that "always wins international" so at 22 I went sure! Drove up to Toronto and with my 75$ ticket in hand (it was 30 years ago) sat at the Roy Thompson Hall and got ready for it. This was their first song. I was not ready.... when Jim Clancy stood in front of the 155 men on 8 rows spreading a mile wide on center stage it made the organ look small. The director raised his hands and, they ALL grew an inch making the risers creek under the weight... I swear - for the first 20 seconds, I thought it was a recording... Vocal Majority Dir: Jim Clancy