The Voice Project is an open-access singing project, based in Norwich, England. It is a Registered Charity and a Limited Company. It was created by singers Siân Croose and Jonathan Baker in 2008. In 2018, it established a choir in Brighton.
Musical Directors
Siân Croose is a singer, conductor and performance maker with over 30 years' experience creating and directing music projects in the UK. After an apprenticeship in bands and alternative theatre, she trained on the Community Music programme founded by John Stevens. She has run choirs, vocal ensembles, and workshops for singers since 1990, and performed with composer Helen Chadwick and a cappella ensemble Human Music in a wide range of UK festivals and performance projects. Composition projects include Harmonium, a wordless systems-based a cappella project for women's voices and The Dawn Chorus with American composer Brendan Taaffe. She runs Norwich-based choir Big Sky, regularly commissioning new music from award-winning songwriter Chris Wood and others, and performing with storyteller Hugh Lupton and multi-instrumentalist Adrian Lever.
Jon Baker is a singer, teacher and composer who has written extensively for TV, radio and theatre. He is a founder-member of The Neutrinos with whom he has toured throughout Europe and North America. He is a co-founder of The Voice Project and also a co-founder of KlangHaus.
Projects
In most years, two shows have been presented, across Norfolk, Sussex and Suffolk.
In Tsegihi
Commissioned from Jon Hassell by Norfolk & Norwich Festival, and performed in Norwich Cathedral in May 2008. Music performed by Jon Hassell (Trumpet, Keyboard), Peter Freeman (Bass, Laptop), Jan Bang (live sampling) and Pete Lockett (Drums). Sound and Sound Design by Arnaud Mercier.
I Prefer the Gorgeous Freedom
Commissioned from Gwilym Simcock by Norfolk & Norwich Festival and Sage Gateshead, and performed in Norwich Cathedral (May 2009), Sage Gateshead, and Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. The London concert was broadcast by BBC Radio 3. Music performed by Gwilym Simcock (Piano), Yuri Goloubev (Bass), Klaus Gesing (Sax) and James Maddren (Drums). Solo singers were Sianed Jones (Soprano), Rebecca Askew (Alto), Siân Croose (Alto), Jeremy Avis (Tenor) and Jonathan Baker (Bass).
Winter Songs (2009) Norwich Catholic Cathedral December. Solo singers: Bex Mather & Sharon Durant (Soprano), Katherine Zeserson & Siân Croose (Alto), Dave Camlin & Jonathan Baker (Bass).
Recording Angel
Commissioned from Arve Henriksen and Jan Bang by Norfolk & Norwich Festival and performed in Norwich Cathedral in May 2010. Music performed by Arve Henriksen (Trumpet) and Jan Bang (live sampling). Solo singers were Sianed Jones (Soprano), Rebecca Askew (Alto), Jeremy Avis (Tenor) and Jonathan Baker (Bass).
Winter Songs (2010) Norwich Catholic Cathedral December. Music performed by Lewis Wright (Vibraphone) and Adrian Lever (Piano). Solo singers: Sianed Jones & Helen Chadwick (Soprano), Katherine Zeserson & Siân Croose (Alto), Dave Camlin & Jonathan Baker (Bass).
Glossolalia
Commissioned from Andy Sheppard by Norfolk & Norwich Festival and performed as part of Jazz Sous Les Pommiers in Coutances, Normandy, Northern France in 2010, and also at Sage Gateshead as part of Gateshead International Jazz Festival in March 2007.
Music performed by Andy Sheppard (Tenor and Soprano Saxophone), John Parricelli (Guitar), Kuljit Bamra (Tabla and Percussion). Solo singers were Sianed Jones (Soprano), Katherine Zeserson (Alto) and Jonathan Baker (Bass). The Coutances Choir with The Voice Project Choir were conducted by Siân Croose.
The Proportions of the Temple
Commissioned from Nik Bärtsch by Norfolk & Norwich Festival and performed in Norwich Cathedral in May 2011. Music performed by Nik Bärtsch and Trio Zèphyr. Solo singers were Sianed Jones (Soprano), Rebecca Askew (Alto), Jeremy Avis (Tenor) and Jonathan Baker (Bass).
Winter Songs (2011) This piece was performed in Norwich (Catholic) Cathedral in December 2011.
Music performed by Adrian Lever (Piano). The Voice Project Quintet were Sianed Jones & Helen Chadwick (Soprano), Katherine Zeserson & Siân Croose (Alto) and Dave Camlin & Jonathan Baker (Bass).
Singing the City (From Dawn to Dusk) This piece was commissioned by Norfolk & Norwich Festival and performed in various locations around Norwich in May 2012.
Composed by Orlando Gough, Helen Chadwick, Jonathan Baker and Jeremy Avis. The Voice Project Quartet were Sianed Jones (Soprano), Rebecca Askew (Alto), Jeremy Avis (Tenor) and Jonathan Baker (Bass).