About VB8
The VB8 Octet was formed in July 2020, at the start of the pandemic when health conditions restricted the number of performers in live events. As a result, we offered concerts with appropriate physical distancing and limited participants. Our goal was to offer safely Voces Boreales’ musical excellence to our audience.
Now an integral part of Voces Boreales, VB8 explores the vocal octet repertoire. It embraces Voces Boreales’ mission: to combine the richness of yesterday's and today's repertoire and offer listeners unique, accessible, and captivating concert experiences. VB8's director is Andrew Gray. VB8 concerts feature prominently contemporary choral works, often presenting the world première of works by emerging Canadian composers. Andrew Gray, VB8’s leader and conductor, and one of its singers, thus seeks to develop programming that challenges and inspires audiences.
With the return of a more “normal” in-person concert format, VB8 have begun to carve a place for themselves in Montreal’s musical landscape. They are now an integral part of our annual concert offerings. Much more than a scaled-down version of the Voces Boreales chamber choir, VB8 offer audiences an authentic and personal live performance experience. Their concerts are not only underpinned by artistic excellence, but they are also engaging events, and people often leave feeling like they've shared an intimate moment with a group of friends—albeit particularly gifted ones!
They recently launched their debut CD, Winter Magic. It is a collection of carols and songs for the festive season, all composed within the last thirty-five years, or, in the case of the two traditional French carols, in newly-written harmonisations. The disc starts and ends with titles by a favorite composer of the group, Arvo Pärt, and includes repertoire from an eclectic mix of living composers. Most notably, the disc includes the first recordings of carols by three Canadian composers; Elizabeth Ekholm, Louis Desjarlais, and Benjamin Sigerson.
We would be delighted to incorporate VB8 into your next event. Be it a Christmas party, corporate event, festival, or an intimate and private musical evening, we are confident that VB8 will contribute to a memorable evening for your guests.
