Leading female a cappella quintet to perform in Exeter

Black Voices, a Birmingham-based performance ensemble renowned for its rich, powerful harmonies and stunning arrangements, are coming to Exeter on Saturday 8 June to do a concert and public workshop supported by St Thomas Gospel Choir.

Black Voices was founded and is led by its musical director Carol Pemberton. Since 1987, she has steered Black Voices in becoming a unique performance ensemble, focused on promoting singing the black oral tradition (SBOT). The group, inspired by Sweet Honey in the Rock, and Take Six, has forged its own dynamic way of distilling and re-presenting black music from an African, Caribbean, black British perspective.

Grounded in the black church, the group presents a cappella, both sacred and secular, inspiring and entertaining. From spirituals to gospel, African to Caribbean, blues to jazz, folk and pop, Black Voices is firmly rooted in music that uplifts, challenges and educates. Carol presented Black Voices’ a cappella series on BBC Radio 2. The group has performed on radio and television in numerous countries around the world. They have produced several albums, always remaining true to its a cappella roots.

Black Voices describe their repertoire as "a carefully woven tapestry covering a broad spectrum of musical styles" and they continually add new threads of colour to their rich fabric of oral music.

Consistently honed over the last two and a half decades, their music transcends age, race, gender or religious persuasion. Black Voices has an extensive repertoire of traditional songs from Africa, Caribbean and English folk, jazz, gospel, pop and Motown and has earned its reputation as the leading female a cappella quintet in Europe.

St Thomas Gospel Choir are an established and vibrant community choir singing anything with a positive message, from traditional spirituals to current pop music. The choir currently is nearly 50 voices strong. They enjoy the challenge of learning new arrangement and truly shine in performance - not to be missed.

Performance 8 June: £15

Workshop 9 June: £10

Tickets available online: http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/stgc

For more information about Black Voices click here.