Octavoce
Octavoce is a multi-award winning eight-part vocal ensemble from Scotland. The group’s members are trained in the British Sacred Choral tradition and sing frequently in cathedrals across the country – as well as with prodigious groups such as Tenebrae, Dunedin Consort and The 24.
Formed by eight students in 2009, the group quickly formed a relationship with internationally-acclaimed composer, Paul Mealor. For them, he wrote She Walks In Beauty, (since recorded by groups such as Tenebrae) of which they gave the first performance. Octavoce has since grown into a professional ensemble which performs across the United Kingdom. In 2018, they claimed victory in the National Vocal Ensemble category at The City of Derry International Choir Festival in Northern Ireland. They retuned the following year to triumph in the National Mixed Voice category and took second place in the National Pop, Jazz and Gospel category. Despite the group’s foundations in the British Sacred Choral tradition, its cross-genre versatility has become its trademark.
A firm fixture in Octavoce’s calendar is their eight-year sell-out Candlelit Christmas Concert Tour which, in recent years, has demanded additional dates and the recording of two Christmas CDs to satisfy the events’ popularity. In the run up to Christmas 2019, Octavoce’s recording of Es ist Ein Ros’ Entsprungen by Michael Praetorius was broadcast to the nation on Classic FM.
Octavoce are passionate about supporting charities that are close to their hearts: they have raised money for various charities including Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, Alzheimers Scotland, Cystic Fibrosis and the British Heart Foundation. In 2018, following a sell-out concert at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, they toured the same program of music to Hampshire in England where they raised over £4000 in aid of the Cameron Bespolka Trust.
Octavoce have released three CDs: A Ceremony of Carols (2018), Make the Season Bright (2017) and She Walks in Beauty (2014).