The world's most acclaimed vocal ensemble makes their long awaited return to Australia.
With a vast repertoire that ranges from Byrd to Michael Bublé, The King's Singers are instantly recognisable for their spot-on intonation, their impeccable vocal blend, their flawless articulation of the text and incisive timing. Described by Gramophone Magazine as 'enchanting the ear from first to last note', The King's Singers are renowned as consummate entertainers; a class-act with a delightfully British wit.
With a prolific discography of over 150 recordings and with over two million pieces of sheet music in circulation, The King's Singers have garnered both awards and significant critical acclaim. Their studio album Simple Gifts was awarded a Grammy in 2009 and they won Best Concert DVD at the MIDEM Classical Awards for their BBC Proms performance at the Royal Albert Hall in 2010.
On their first tour of Australia in nearly three decades, we are delighted to be able to welcome them to the Concert Hall, QPAC to perform a wonderfully varied orchestral program of classical, jazz and pop favourites.
David Hurley & Timothy Wayne-Wright, countertenor; Paul Phoenix, tenor; Philip Lawson & Christopher Gabbitas, baritone; Jonathan Howard, bass
"The superlative vocal sextet" The Times (London)
"Flawlessly realised" The Guardian (UK)
The King's Singers
David Hurley (Countertenor)
It seems incredible to me that I have now clicked up twenty years singing with The King's Singers. The time has passed so quickly. I began my singing life forty years ago when I started as a chorister at Winchester Cathedral. At the age of fifteen I started using my falsetto in my school choir, and my fragile countertenor won me a choral scholarship to New College, Oxford, which I inhabited for three happy years from 1981 until 1984. Armed with a degree in geography I began my life as a freelance singer, specialising in higher falsetto parts with groups such as the Gabrieli Consort. The wonderful opportunity to audition with The King's Singers came in 1989, and I joined the line-up in February 1990. When I get a moment I enjoy cooking, reading, sailing and doing sudokus; some of these things being more easily done on tour than others. I live with my wife, Sarah, in the beautiful county of West Sussex near the coast, and near my small smailing boat, which I occasionally get the chance to sail!
Timothy Wayne-Wright (Countertenor)
My passion for singing carried on throughout my teens and in 2001 I began studying at Goldsmith's College, part of the University of London. After this music degree, I was offered a Vocal Scholarship to study for a Postgraduate Diploma at Trinity College of Music, London. During this time I also became a Choral Scholar at the Royal Naval College Chapel in Greenwich, as well as singing services at places such as St. Paul's and Rochester Cathedrals. This was a very important time for me vocally and I am forever indebted to my teacher, TImothy Travers-Brown, who worked so hard with me on technique and stage craft. In 2006, I auditioned for the prestigious position of Lay Clerk at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Living in the Castle was wonderful, and after having been there for only 2 years, I was asked to audition for The King's Singers job. Where has all the time gone? A question I ask myself on a regular basis, now looking back over the two years as a King's Singer. It seems like another life time ago that I was embarking on my first few concerts with the group in America, back in February 2009. The learning curve has been immensely steep but the sheer enjoyment in the variety that his unique job brings, and the joy that our music gives to people all over the world is, I'm sure, something that will never tire. I absolutely love the amount of travelling that being a King's Singer entails, and althought I find it simply impossible to stay awake on any mode of transport, I have still managed to see some pretty amazing views on our trips!
Paul Phoenix (Tenor)
It is often said that the older you get, the quicker the time seems to pass. It feels like a lifetime ago since I was a freelance tenor, learning so much about singing in different styles: from pop sessions, to singing arias in Handel's 'Messiah', and even longer since I sang as a chorister in St. Paul's Cathedral. Yet here I am thirteen years after joining what I think is the world's finest vocal group, and I still enjoy every second of it. I feel lucky to stand alongside the most generous and skilled musicians, who have taught me so much and given me such pleasure. Highlights? Well, being awarded a Grammy in 2009 was a great honour, and performing in King's College Chapel for the fortieth anniversary concert was an amazing experience. I continue to enjoy the travel, especially to new territories - China for example, where we have the chance to share our joy of singing with new audiences. I also love revisiting some of the world's most interesting cities, concert halls, churches and airports! Back home in rural Cambridgeshire, I am enabled to continue in this job, by the wonderful Helena, who for much of the year brings up William, 15, and Edward, 10, single-handedly, saying that when I return home its like having three children to look after!
Philip Lawson (Baritone)
It doens't seem that long ago that I first stepped onto a stage with The King's Singers, but now I find myself to be the oldest member. I first auditioned for the group in 1987, for the first baritone position being vacated by Tony Holt. Having failed to win that place I concluded that becoming a member of the group that I had idolised in my teens was not meant to be, but founder-member Simon Carrington called me in 1993 asking if I would like to audition for his own job as second baritone, and this time I was successful. An ironic twist occurred two years leater when I volunteered to fill the once again vacant first baritone position, thus finally, and to my great personal satisfaction, securing the place which I had failed to win nearly ten years previously! Before joinin the group I was Director of Music of a prep school in Salisbury and a Lay Clerk in the choir of Salisbury Cathedral, as well as being the pianist and arranger for a local dance band. Prior to that I had worked as a freelance singer in London, and when exchanging life in the capital for life in the Wiltshire countryside in 1982, vowed I would get a proper job and never again rely totally on singing!
Christopher Gabbitas (Baritone)
During the 2010-2011 season I was joined by another new colleague and I can nearly count myself amongst the more experienced King's Singers in the current line-up. It's been an incredible career in the group so far, providing many musical highlights and a lot of new friends. I think you providing many musical highlights and a lot of new friends. I think you never really stop learning and growing as a performer so this next chapter will be full of different experiences - and as always the chance to welcome a new member, with new ideas and energy, is an incredibly exciting prospect! Going through the audition process for Stephen's replacement reminded me once again how lucky I am to be touring and singing with this wonderful bunch of gentlemen. I never really thought I'd have a full-time professional singing career, especially not when in the middle of a complicated day at my former job, as a lawyer in London! Since I joined in 2004 I've sung at many dream venues, including Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, New York's Carnegie Hall and London's Royal Albert Hall, to name but a few. Juggling work and home life can be difficult but I'm lucky to have a wonderful family to return to, including our first child, born in July 2009. As usual with new parents, when I'm home Stephanie and I spend most of our energy playing with Bella, and taking her to music or swimming classes.
Jonathan Howard (Bass)
Looking back, it's surreal to think that I was deskbound at a London advertising agency last year. I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that music would now never be anything more than a hobby for the rest of my life, despite four years of intensive singing as a choral scholar at New College, Oxford, and seven years at Christ's Hospital, a wonderful school in West Sussex renowned for its impressive and diverse musical credentials. How times have changed! Now, I'm knee-deep in music to be learnt (often from memory) for imminent concerts, usually living out of a suitcase and learning to manage my life from all kinds of public transport. I still find it arresting that it's now my job to sing as part of the best male a cappella group inhe world. I felt like I had so little control over the selection process: suddenly, one day while at work, I received a telephone call, asking me if I'd like to audition. Five months later, I was at the tailor, being asked for my King's Singers suit measurements. As I imagine is the case with all dream jobs, you just turn up at interviews with no serious belief that you might be chosen. I distinctly remember smiling inanely throughout in a vain attempt to disguise my nerves. Hopefully, I'll learn to relax my face so I don't look manic on stage but, needless to say, I reckon it'll take a while for my excitement at performing with the group to subside. It's hard to know where I'm going to fit in all the other things I used to do in my spare time. I can already tell that it's an imperative in this group to make the most of your time wherever you are and, frankly that's fine by me.
Reviews for The King's Singers
"Arguably, the most popular a cappella group of all time" Primarily A Cappella
"...performing skill at its finest" BBC Music Magazine
"...the clarity, control and communicativeness of The King's Singers performance remains unparalleled." Los Angeles Times
"...a musical group of the very highest order." The Gramophone
Presented By Queensland Pops Orchestra