Meet the Swingles
For half a century, The Swingle Singers have pushed the boundaries of what the human voice can achieve. Their vocal agility and blend, combined with captivating showmanship, have thrilled audiences across the globe. Today's young and gifted Swingle Singers represent the group's evolution from baroque jazz pioneers to contemporary a cappella phenomenon.
Sara (soprano)
Sara was born and raised in East Tennessee in the United States. Throughout her high school years she was active in her school choir, and community productions including 'My Fair Lady', in which she played Eliza.
Sara went on to study music education and performance at East Tennessee State University, where she played Suzanna in 'Le Nozze di Figaro', Mabel in 'Pirates of Penzance', The Diva in 'La Divina', and appeared in productions of 'Carmen' and 'Dido and Aeneas'. She also toured to Germany as a soloist with the ETSU Chorale lead by Dr Thomas Jenrette.
She joined the Swingle Singers in 2009 and since then has enjoyed performing in venues all around the world. Sara fills her free time in London with session work, and particularly enjoys singing on film scores. As an avid quilter and cook, she makes sure that Tennessee is never far away.
Jo (soprano)
Joanna started singing at school in various groups including an a cappella group that she led herself. While still at school she joined the Ionian Singers, recording several contemporary music albums. She was a member of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, serving as soprano 1 section leader, and also sang with its chamber choir Laudibus.
Joanna studied voice at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama before joining the Swingle Singers in 2006. As a session singer she has appeared on film soundtracks including 'The Hobbit', 'Prometheus' and 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows parts 1 & 2'. She has also sung live backing vocals for alternative rock legend Elizabeth Fraser.
Joanna's arrangement of 'No More I Love You's' on the Swingle Singers album 'Ferris Wheels' won the 2010 CARA award for Best Jazz Song. She was a Disney princess in a previous life.
Clare (alto)
Clare grew up in Kenya before moving to Manchester to attend Chetham's School of Music, where she trained as a violinist and also studied classical voice. During this time she met bassist Steve Berry of Loose Tubes, and started getting into jazz.
She went on to Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London to study jazz composition and voice under Pete Churchill and Tim Garland, as well as classical singing with Penny Mackay. Clare freelanced in London as a singer and composer, and taught music theory and harmony at the Academy of Contemporary Music, before joining the Swingle Singers in 2007.
In 2012, she released 'Crossing', a jazz album with American composer Tyler Gilmore. A respected voice in contemporary vocal music, Clare has been a guest host of BBC Radio 3's 'The Choir'. It is her life's ambition to be the voice of London's Tube trains.
Oli (tenor)
Oliver was born and raised in Bristol. He attended Clifton College, where he discovered his love for various musical styles, from madrigal singing to musical theatre. As a soloist in the chapel and chamber choirs, he had the chance to sing in some of Europe's finest venues. He was also involved in recording projects including the world premiere of a commissioned work by Graham Fitkin and a series of live broadcasts on BBC Radio 4.
Oliver went on to study English and Related Literature at the University of York, where he was sang with the Zamar Gospel Choir and semi-chorus, the Yorkshire Bach Choir and the University Chamber Choir, among others. He was involved in the theatre scene, directing and producing several shows and taking lead roles in the university musical.
Oliver joined the Swingle Singers in 2010. His facial hair is the source of his power.
CJ (tenor)
Christopher graduated as a Manufacturing Engineer from Nottingham University before training in Musical Theatre at the Royal Academy of Music. He began singing as a chorister at New College Oxford, and at school his teachers included ex-Swingles Jonathan Rathbone and Ben Parry. He sang with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, and its fantastic chamber choir Laudibus – while also discovering his passion for dirty funk grooves.
Christopher has sung second tenor in the Swingle Singers since 2008, and in his spare time is a session singer for Annie Skates's Capital Voices. Theatre credits include Sweeney Todd cover in John Doyle's 'Sweeney Todd', Jacob in 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' (UK tour) as well as Swing/Jacob understudy (New London Theatre), and Count Ludovic/Lieutenant Barri in 'Passion' (Bridewell Theatre).
On tour, Christopher is never happier than when tucking into a plate of North America's finest invention, Buffalo Wings.
Kevin (baritone)
Ontario native Kevin Fox is an established voice on the a cappella scene. He studied Anthropology and Archaeology at York University in Toronto, while directing and producing several albums for the award-winning collegiate choir Wibijazz'n.
During this time he co-founded the vocal band CADENCE, whose albums 'Frost Free' (2000) and 'Twenty For One' (2005) were nominated for three Juno awards – the Canadian equivalent to Grammy awards – and won several CARA awards. Kevin spent nine years as the quartet's bass and vocal percussionist, and lent his voice to numerous other ensembles including the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Autorickshaw and Retrocity, before joining the Swingle Singers in 2007.
He continues to work as a sought-after arranger and educator – including positions as resident composer for Toronto's acclaimed Driftwood Theatre Group, and musical director of Israel's newest and hippest a cappella choir, Vocalocity. Kevin enjoys photography, mountain climbing and Angry Birds.
Edward (bass)
Edward hails from south London. His love of a cappella music began when he arrived at Oxford University to study English, and joined collegiate group The Gargoyles. Highlights of his time as a Gargoyle included performing at New York's Alice Tully Hall... and supporting the Swingle Singers. He was also featured as a soloist with Last Minute on BBC One's 'Last Choir Standing' in 2008.
After graduating, Edward sang with Thierry Lalo's award-winning French jazz group the Voice Messengers, as well as numerous other vocal ensembles and choirs. He obtained an MA in journalism from City University London in 2012, the same year he joined the Swingle Singers, and still freelances occasionally as a writer.
When the tour schedule permits, Edward plays with sunshine-pop band Zig Zag Birds, and with his own jazz quartet. He grudgingly admits to appearing in a Harry Potter movie as a child.