Recent Events
Octavoce Burns Celebration 2024
​
Join award winning acappella ensemble Octavoce for an evening of music in celebration of Robert Burns, and other songs from Scotland.
​
7.30pm, Wednesday 24th January
St. Vincent's Chapel, Edinburgh
​
8.00pm, Friday 26th January
Fogo Parish Church, Berwickshire
​
Candelit Christmas Concert 2023
​
Edinburgh's award winning vocal ensemble are back for another Christmas series! With Christmas music from across the years, and features many genres including pop, jazz and classical, there is something from everyone. Perfomed in an atmospheric setting, this is a highlight of the Christmas calender and an event not to be missed!
​
7.30pm, Thursday 21st December
St. Vincent's Chapel, Edinburgh
​
7.30pm, Friday 22nd December
St. Andrew's Church, Fortrose
​
7.30pm, Saturday 23rd December
Morningside United Church, Edinburgh
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023
100 Years of Disney
Leith Archers - The Mezzanine
​
Celebrating 100 years since the iconic Disney title sequence first graced our screens, award-winning international vocal ensemble Octavoce present a whirlwind a cappella trip through our favourite Disney tunes. We'll take you from their earlier films like Cinderella and Jungle Book, to the Disney Renaissance of the 90s (think Lion King and Little Mermaid), right up to more recent films such as Brave and Frozen... We know Disney animations hold a very special place in the hearts of many generations so we welcome all ages!
​
​
Candelight Christmas Concerts 2022
​
7.30pm, Thursday 8th December
Morningside United Church, Edinburgh
​
7.30pm, Friday 9th December
St Vincent's Chapel, Edinburgh
​
7.30pm, Friday 23rd December
St Andrew's Scottish Episcopal Church, Fortrose
Korkyra Baroque Festival 2022
​
In September 2022, Octavoce travelled to the island of Korcula to perform at the Korkyra Baroque Festival. Having originally been invited for the 2020 fesitval (cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic), it was thrilling to finally go on tour to Croatia. We gave two concerts, showcasing the British choral traditions from the Renaissance and Baroque periods.
​
The first concert was in a church in a small village in Pupnat, and the second was in the Korcula Cathedral. It was a joy to perform for the audiences, and an honour to give the final performances of the festival.
​
Many thanks to Laura Vadjon for inviting us to perform, and to all the festival team and volunteers for making us feel so welcome. Thanks also to Creative Scotland for their support, ensuring that we had the funds to make the trip possible.
Performing in the Cathedral, Korcula
Before the concert in Pupnat
Sing Joyfully! - May, 2022
​
In preparation for Octavoce's tour to Croatia - where they will perform at the Korkyra Baroque Festival - they will showcase the best of British Renaissance choral music. The ensemble are celebrated for their versatility and engaging style.
​
In their performance at St James’ and St Basil’s church (Newcastle), they will combine the early music of Byrd and Gibbons with contemporary Scottish composer, James MacMillan, concluding with some lighter jazz and folk arrangements.
​
To see the programme for this concert, click here.
Candelit Christmas Concerts 2021
​
We were delighted to present our Candlelit Christmas concert series again in December 2021! You can see the highlights of our tour in this video and you can see the concert programme:
7.30pm · Thursday 16th December
Morningside United Church, Edinburgh.
6.00pm & 7.30pm · Friday 17th December
St Andrew’s Church, Fortrose.
7.30pm · Saturday 18th December
St Vincent’s Chapel, Edinburgh.
​
​
​
Candelit Christmas Concert Highlights
Sing Joyfully!
7.30pm · Saturday 21st August 2021
Crammond Kirk, Edinburgh
​
We were delighted to welcome you to our ‘Sing Joyfully’ concert at Cramond Kirk. This was our first live performance since December 2019 and we loved sharing some wonderful music with you.
​
Proceeds from the concert were donated to Turi Children’s Project.
​
7.30pm Sunday 20th December 2020
​
in 2020, due to the Covid-19 restrictions, we were unable to give our normal carol concerts. However, we recorded a concert which was streamed online on Facebook, Youtube and on our website.
​
Please click on the link below for full details:
​
A Candlelit Christmas Concert
Octavoce Annual Christmas Concerts 2019
Fri 20th December - St Andrews Chuch, Fortrose
Sat 21st December - Morningside United Church, Edinburgh
Sun 22nd December - Edinburgh City Chambers
​
O Come O Come Emmanuel
Riu Riu Chiu
Still, Still, Still
Magnificat - Praetorius
In Dulci Jubilo
Away in a Manger
Bethlehem Down
Lully Lulla Lullay
The Holly and the Ivy
Little Drummer Boy
In the Bleak Midwinter
Let it Snow
Winter Wonderland
Jingle Bells
White Christmas
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
During the concert in Fortrose
Christmas Carol Competition 2019
Classic FM & Making Music UK
Octavoce was shortlisted as one of ten choirs across the UK by Making Music UK in their annual Christmas carol compettion. Our recording of Michael Pretorius' Es ist Ein Ros' entsrpungen
was then selected as one of five winners by Classic FM to be broadcast in the run up to Christmas,
​
Classic FM Drive
5-7pm, Wednesday 18th December 2019
​
Es ist Ein Ros' Entsrpungen Michael Praetorius
City of Derry International Choir Festival 2019
St Columb's Hall, Derry
Sat 26th -Sun 27th October, 2019
​
National Mixed Voice category
O Radiant Dawn James MacMillan
The Barber of Seville (Overture) Rossini arr. Runswick
​
National Pop, Jazz and Gospel category
Lullabye Billy Joel arr. Lawson
Let's Do It Cole Porter arr. Blackwell
​
National Vocal Ensemble
Lay A Garland Pearsall
Summer Time Gershwin arr. Williams
​
Octavoce travelled once again to Derry for the International Choir Festival, this time taking part in three categories. We performed two pieces in each category (all from memory!) for the audience and panel, and were thrilled to be awarded first place National Mixed Voice category, along with second place in the other two categories. It was a surprise to win another category, but we were very pleased with all three results! Well done to all the other choirs we met and performed alongside.
Octavoce Spring series
7.30pm · Saturday 6th April 2019
St Jame's Episcopal Church, Dingwall
7.30pm · Sunday 7th April 2019
Cupar Old Parish Church, Cupar
​
Octavoce travelled to Dingwall and Cupar to present a programme of music inspired by Spring.
Octavoce Christmas series 2018
St Andrews Church, Fortrose
7.30pm · Saturday 22nd December
Morningside United church, Edinburgh
Edinburgh City Chambers
​
Seasonal Repertoire
​
Octavoce's annual Christmas concert series was, once again, a great success. Due to popular demand, an extra Edinburgh date was added for 2018.
Octavoce and Kalopsia Collaboration
7.30pm · Sunday 4th November
The Robin Chapel, Edinburgh
7.30pm · Saturday 24th November
Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh
​
Repertoire included:
Durufle Four Motets
Holst Nunc Dimittis
Wood Magnificat in F
​
A collaboration with writer/performer, J. A. Sutherland as part of Kalopsia's OCTAVO FIKA - 2018. Join us to experience an evening of words, music, multimedia and movement
National Vocal Ensemble
City of Derry International Choir Festival 2018
St Columb's Hall, Derry
Sunday 28th October, 2018
​
Hail Gladdening Light Charles Wood
Feeling Good arr. Voces8
​
Octavoce travelled to Derry for the International Choir Festival to take part in the National Vocal Ensemble category. We performed our two pieces for the audience and panel, and were thrilled to be awarded first place. It was a great weekend, and all the hard work paid off! Thanks Derry, and hopefully see you again soon!
Songs of Nature, Edinburgh
Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Morningside United Church, Edinburgh
Tuesday 21st August, 2018
7.30pm
The programme included 'Summertime' by George Gershwin, 'O Radiant Dawn' by James MacMillan as well as works by Esenvalds, Wood, Cole Porter and more!
​
Proceeds were split between SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) and Octavoce.
Songs of Nature, Hampshire, July 2018
Octavoce have recently returned from a tour to Hampshire, in partnership with the 'Cameron Bespolka Trust'. We gave two very successful concerts, the first of which was in the church of Hospital St Cross, Winchester. It was a beautiful church, and it had wonderful acoustics. This was followed by a sell out concert in the parish church of Little Somborne. Both concerts were well received, and we were able to help raise over £4000. Our programme 'Songs of Nature' reflected the values of the trust, focusing on nature, and 'birds' in particular.
​
Read more about our performances on the Cameron Bespolka website.
Octavoce performing at Hospital of St. Cross, Winchester
Christmas Concerts, 2017
​
Saturday 9th December - Fortrose, Black Isle
Sunday 10th December - City Chambers, Edinburgh
​
We made our annual trip to the Black Isle, followed by a concert the following night in the Edinburgh City chambers. This year, we were delighted to welcome Esther Swift on harp, to accompany Octavoce in Britten's 'Ceremony of Carols'.
Edinburgh City Chambers
Hospital of St. Cross, Winchester
Church in Little Somborne
Performing in Fortrose
St Andrew's Church, Fortose