king’singers Return to UA for Celebrity Series Nov. 6

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The world renowned king’singers will return to Tuscaloosa and The University of Alabama as part of the School of Music’s Celebrity Series on Tuesday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in the Moody Music Concert Hall.

Single event tickets are available for the general public for $22 and $15, and $7 for students with valid IDs. For more information about tickets, contact the School of Music box office at 205/348-7111.

It isn’t really a surprise that one of the world’s most popular vocal groups comes from England, for that country has long had and unsurpassed tradition of vocal music with roots in both religious and secular singing. But the mainstay of English vocal tradition has resided in the church and the education of youthful choristers in the great cathedrals. Each year out of all England and its rich tradition there are just 14 young men appointed choral scholars to King’s College, Cambridge. As there are such a select few, a close bond is formed among these singers whose lives are immersed in the tradition of choral song, by daily choir practice and evensong, not to mention the individual effort to train and strengthen the voice.

It was in 1965 that Alastair Hume, Simon Carrington and Brian Kay with the other choral students decided to cut a record of some of the most popular songs in their “fun repertoire.” The called themselves Schola Cantorum Pro Musica Profana on this release of 100 records. Six of the 14 went on a tour calling themselves Six Choral Scholars from King’s College. They were Martin Lane, Al Hume, Neil Jenkins, Richard Salter, Simon Carrington and Brian Kay. The king’singers name was adopted when, on May 1, l968, they sang their first London debut. Alastair Hume (countertenor), Simon Carrington (baritone), Brian Kay (bass), and Anthony Holt (baritone) with Nigel Perrin (countertenor who graduated from King’s to join his friends a year later) are the foundations of this remarkable group which has never diminished in virtuosity throughout its 30-plus year history of sharing one of the widest repertoires imaginable with enthusiastic audiences throughout Europe, the U.S., Russia, Japan, Korea and South Africa. They have shared the stage with a diverse selection of most notable musicians such as Placido Domingo, The Boston Pops Orchestra, jazz musicians Art Farmer and Bill Dobbins, Paul McCartney and many others. Composers from around the world specifically create music for them.