In an extraordinary artistic coup, the internationally acclaimed British vocal ensemble VOCES8, the world's most-streamed classical vocal group,
2026 OPUS Klassik Award winner and 2023 Grammy-nominated artists, will perform exclusively in Australia in CAIRNS at the
Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) in Cairns in 2027.
Renowned for a sound described as breathtaking, pure and almost impossible in its precision, VOCES8 has taken the oldest instrument in the world - the human voice - and created a global phenomenon.
Their extraordinary harmonies have filled the world's greatest concert halls, reached millions online and introduced a new generation of audiences to the power of vocal music. From Renaissance masterpieces to contemporary works, cinematic soundscapes and unexpected collaborations, VOCES8 has redefined what a classical vocal ensemble can be.
Australian Festival of Chamber Music Artistic Director Jack Liebeck said securing VOCES8 exclusively for AFCM was an extraordinary moment for the Festival.
"I've had the privilege of working with VOCES8 in concert, on tour, and in recording projects, a few years ago performing together here in Australia at the famed Opera House, and in Singapore. There is something incredibly special about the combination of the human voice and the violin, it's a shared musical language, and with VOCES8 it creates something truly unique," said Liebeck.
"So to bring them here, to Cairns, exclusively for AFCM in 2027, is something I'm enormously excited about. It's exactly the kind of international, world-class artistry that our move to Cairns and the support of our Artistic Director's Circle and the Queensland Government now makes possible: bringing the world to Far North Queensland, and placing this Festival firmly on the global stage."
Formed in 2005, VOCES8 has become one of the most celebrated vocal groups in the world, performing internationally across Europe, North America and Asia, collaborating with leading musicians, composers, orchestras and conductors. Their versatility sits at the heart of their success, with programs that span centuries, cultures and genres.
Behind the VOCES8 sound are eight extraordinary individual artists. The ensemble features sopranos Savannah Porter and Virginia Grabovsky, alto Katie Jeffries-Harris, countertenor and Artistic Director Barnaby Smith, tenors Euan Williamson and Blake Morgan, baritone Christopher Moore and bass Dominic Carver. Each brings their own musical journey, artistry and personality to VOCES8; together they create the breathtaking precision, warmth and connection that has made the ensemble one of the most celebrated vocal groups in the world.
Barnaby Smith, Artistic Director and countertenor of VOCES8 said, "Australia has always held a special place in our hearts, so to make our Australian return exclusively at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Cairns-Gimuy is a tremendous honour. The Festival has an extraordinary international reputation, and there's something incredibly exciting about bringing eight unaccompanied voices to such an intimate setting, surrounded by one of the world's most spectacular natural landscapes."
"The human voice is the oldest instrument we have. In a world filled with technology and constant noise, live singing reminds us what it means to listen, to breathe together and to connect. That's something we're incredibly excited to share with AFCM audiences, and of course to work again with our friend, Jack Liebeck."
"As travelling musicians, we rarely get to stay in one place for more than a couple of nights and so we're excited to come to Australia this time for the whole festival, staying in one place, and really get into everything that is being performed over all the days. See you there!"
Their arrival at AFCM continues the Festival's reputation for bringing the world's finest musicians to Tropical North Queensland, creating once-in-a-lifetime performances where the world's greatest artists meet one of the world's most extraordinary destinations.
The exclusive 2027 Australian appearance at AFCM in Cairns has been made possible thanks to the AFCM's Artistic Director's Circle and the Queensland Government through the through Arts Queensland's Cultural Tourism Grant.
Minister for Education and the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said the state is home to incredible arts experiences and events, with the Cultural Tourism Fund helping festivals like AFCM to expand, evolve and reach new audiences.
"Ahead of our biggest-ever event, the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Crisafulli Government is investing in much-loved festivals to deliver new programming that will boost tourism and transform our State through vibrant arts and culture," Minister Langbroek said. "We're delighted to help support this brilliant British octet bring their awe-inspiring harmonies and their legion of fans to Cairns for next year's Australian Festival of Chamber Music.
"Hosting this kind of Australian-exclusive will further strengthen the Far North's reputation for impactful arts and cultural events that drive real economic benefits for small businesses, tourism operators and hospitality providers across the region."
The announcement also coincides with a funding extension for AFCM from the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.
Assistant Tourism Minister and Member for Barron River Bree James said Cairns was proud to host another world-class event experience. "Having VOCES8 perform exclusively in Cairns is a fantastic outcome for our community and another feather in the cap for Tropical North Queensland's growing events reputation."
"The Australian Festival of Chamber Music already attracts audiences from across the country, and this exclusive performance will give even more people a reason to visit Cairns. Events like these don't just create unforgettable experiences - they support local jobs, local businesses, and our visitor economy. The Crisafulli Government is continuing to back events that showcase the very best of our region and keep Tropical North Queensland front of mind as a must-visit destination."
Set between two World Heritage wonders, the Great Barrier Reef and ancient rainforest, AFCM has become internationally recognised as a festival unlike any other.
HOW TO ACCESS TICKETS TO VOCES8
2027 Gold and Gold Plus subscriptions, along with Friends memberships, ARE NOW ON SALE for a strictly limited one-month period until the end of August 2026, and at 2026 prices.
Tickets booked before 31 August this year, will also have an exclusive Q&A with Voces8.
VOCES8 BACKGROUNDER
Eight voices. One global phenomenon.
WHO ARE VOCES8?
VOCES8 is one of the world's most celebrated vocal ensembles, an eight-person British a cappella group that has transformed what audiences expect from classical singing. Founded in 2005, the ensemble has taken the oldest instrument on earth in the human voice, and turned it into a global phenomenon, performing everywhere from the great concert halls of Europe to millions of listeners online
THE NUMBERS
- Eight voices.
- Twenty years of song.
- More than 2,000 performances across over 40 countries.
- Forty thousand students inspired every year.
- Millions of listeners and followers across Spotify and YouTube.
- Grammy nominated.
- Internationally celebrated.
- And in 2027, VOCES8 will perform exclusively in Australia, only at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Cairns.
THE BIG WINS
- 2026 OPUS Klassik winner: One of Europe's most prestigious classical music honours.
- Grammy-nominated ensemble: Recognised among the world's best vocal performers.
- Global touring artists: Performing internationally in some of the world's most prestigious venues including Wigmore Hall, Barbican Hall, Concertgebouw, Elbphilharmonie and the Sydney Opera House
THE HUMAN ALGORITHM
Eight voices doing what technology still can't. In a world obsessed with AI-created music, digital perfection and auto-tune, VOCES8's superpower is the opposite, every performance relies on listening, instinct, trust and microscopic adjustments in real time.
WHO THEY HAVE SUNG WITH
Paul Simon, Jacob Collier, Eric Whitacre, Christopher Tin, Ólafur Arnalds, Cody Fry and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra among others.
Australian Festival of Chamber Music: 24 July – 1 August, 2026
AND Friday 23 July - Saturday 31 July 2027 - Cairns
www.afcm.com.au | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | #afcm
AFCM is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and Arts Queensland; Cairns Regional Council; the Ian Potter Foundation; and the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.
VOCES8
Questions with countertenor and Artistic Director Barnaby Smith
You have performed in some extraordinary places around the world – what excites you about bringing VOCES8's sound to Tropical North Queensland and the AFCM audience in an AUSTRALIAN exclusive in 2027? Australia has always been one of our favourite places to perform because audiences are so open, curious and generous, and it feels like such an adventure to come around the world. To be making our debut at AFCM, and to do so in Tropical North Queensland, feels incredibly special – more so because we are not touring anywhere else in Australia this time around. The festival has such a wonderful reputation for bringing together world-class artists in an intimate setting, and we're looking forward to working and performing with Jack Liebeck whom we often perform with back in the UK. For Australian audiences who may never have experienced VOCES8 live before – how would you describe the feeling of being in the room when eight voices come together? The first thing people often notice is the silence between the notes. When eight voices are perfectly balanced, there's a sense that the sound almost hangs in the air. It's surprisingly intimate - you can hear every breath and every colour in the music. We hope audiences feel as though they're inside the music with us rather than simply watching on. In an age of technology, AI and endless digital noise, VOCES8 celebrates the oldest instrument we have – the human voice. Why do you think singing and vocal harmony still has such a powerful emotional impact? The human voice is impossible to separate from being human. Before we learn language, we respond to voices. Singing is one of the oldest ways we've communicated emotion, celebrated, grieved and told stories. Technology can do amazing things, but nothing replaces the feeling of hearing live singing and being in the present. There is a vulnerability to singing and that's what makes it so moving. What is the secret to the VOCES8 sound? Is it technical perfection, friendship, listening – or something else entirely? Listening comes first. We spend far more time honing our listening skills than most people would imagine. The listening then allows us to introduce blend, balance and tuning into our performances. Trust, friendship and curiosity all play a part too. We spend much of the year learning how each other's voices work - it's about creating one musical voice from eight individual ones. Your repertoire crosses centuries and genres – from Renaissance works to contemporary music. Has breaking down those boundaries been key to introducing new audiences to classical music? Absolutely. We don't really see musical genres as boxes because great music is great music whether it was written 500 years ago or last week. Audiences today have incredibly broad listening habits, so it's natural for our concerts to reflect that. We love programming that places a Renaissance motet alongside a contemporary piece or a jazz standard because it reveals unexpected connections. Often people discover they love something they never expected to enjoy. After achieving so much internationally, what still sits on the VOCES8 dream list? Oh, there is so much! There are always new places we'd love to sing and new people we'd love to collaborate with. We're constantly commissioning new music, for example through our Composer-in-Residence Taylor Scott Davis or others, developing educational projects and looking for ways to reach people who might never have attended a classical concert before. The dream isn't really about ticking destinations off a list, it's about continuing to surprise ourselves and our audiences. Your mission is about inspiring people through music and sharing the joy of singing. Why is that message so important today? Singing is something everyone can do. You don't need expensive equipment or years of training to experience its benefits. Whether you're singing in a choir, with your family or on your own, it connects people in a way that is becoming more challenging. Singing asks us to listen to one another, breathe together and create something collectively. That's a powerful lesson beyond music itself. If someone says "classical music isn't for me", what would you say to them before they experience you? We'd probably say, "Just come with an open mind." Our concerts aren't about anyone needing to be a classical music aficionado. We mix classical with jazz and pop which often gives a good entry point for people who might feel unsure. It's amazing how many people tell us after concerts that they came for the lighter fun pieces but enjoyed William Byrd over everything else. You travel the world together – what's something people would be surprised to know about life inside the group? There are lots of airport lounges, early mornings and suitcase logistics! But there's also a lot of laughter. We've become experts at finding good coffee almost anywhere in the world, and we all have our own routines that somehow fit together remarkably well. Eight singers on tour… who is the organised one, who is the joker, and who is always late – any other fab personalities or roles? Also can you share some of our 'out of performance' hobbies or loves? We're too diplomatic to name the person who's occasionally cutting it fine for the flight! There are people who naturally keep everyone organised, people who keep morale high, those who always know the best café nearby, and those who quietly solve problems before anyone notices them.
Away from the stage we're a pretty varied bunch. There are keen runners and cyclists, enthusiastic cooks, coffee aficionados, readers, photographers, football fans, lovers of the outdoors and plenty of board game enthusiasts. Australia is famous for dangerous wildlife – who in VOCES8 is most likely to be brave enough to hold a snake or meet a crocodile in Cairns? None of us You'll be performing beside the Great Barrier Reef and ancient rainforest – do places and landscapes influence how you perform? Very much so. Every venue has its own atmosphere, and every landscape has its own sense of space and colour. Spending time in extraordinary places inevitably feeds into how you think about sound, breathing and communication. Music is always shaped by the environment in which it's shared, so performing in Tropical North Queensland will undoubtedly make the experience unique. Complete this sentence: "When eight voices truly connect, it feels like…" "...heaven, where the music seems to sing itself." What is the hardest note/repertoire VOCES8 has ever sung? We made our BBC Proms debut and were asked to premiere an extremely challenging piece by composer Alexia Sloane. We were very proud to have pulled it off! If each of you weren't in VOCES8, what would you be doing? Music would almost certainly still be part of our lives. Some of us would probably be teaching, conducting, composing or working with choirs. Others have interests that might have taken them into areas like broadcasting, sound recording, arts management or even completely different professions. But one thing is certain - we'd all still be singing in some capacity.
