Press Biog
Please request a list of singers’ names for each project, and ensure that all singers’ names are correctly printed in the programme. We will be happy to provide you with a shorter version of the following biography if required.
Synergy Vocals
Synergy Vocals has been closely associated with the music of Steve Reich for almost 30 years. Specialising in close-microphone singing, the group has performed all over the world with ensembles including the Boston, Chicago, New World, San Francisco, St Louis, Utah and Vancouver Symphony orchestras, the Los Angeles and Brooklyn Philharmonic orchestras, Nexus, Steve Reich & Musicians, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, AskoǀSchönberg, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Ictus, London Sinfonietta, the London Symphony Orchestra and all of the UK’s BBC orchestras. Equally well-known for their performances of music by Luciano Berio, John Adams, Louis Andriessen and Steven Mackey, they have also collaborated with dance companies in London and Brussels.
World premières include Reich’s Three Tales, Daniel Variations, Traveler’s Prayer and Jacob’s Ladder, Steven Mackey’s Dreamhouse, Andriessen’s La Commedia, David Lang’s writing on water and Sir James MacMillan’s Since it was the day of Preparation…, as well as the UK première of Nono’s Prometeo. Synergy Vocals provided the chorus for Ravi Shankar’s opera Sukanya, and for Satya Hinduja’s Harmony of the Worlds project with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Their commercial recordings include the Grammy winning Dreamhouse by Steven Mackey, Since it was the day of Preparation…. by Sir James MacMillan, De Staat by Louis Andriessen, Three Tales by Steve Reich, La Commedia by Louis Andriessen, and John Adams’ Grand Pianola Music conducted by the composer. Recent releases include Berio’s Sinfonia with BBCSO, Steve Reich’s Proverb and Music for 18 Musicians with the Colin Currie Group (both co-produced by Micaela Haslam), and The Desert Music with Sydney Symphony Orchestra, co-mixed/edited by Micaela Haslam. Synergy Vocals are also featured on Karl Jenkins’ Imagined Oceans, Rob Reed’s Sanctuary, These New Puritans’ Field of Reeds, Kompendium’s Beneath the Waves, and Steven Wilson’s Grace for Drowning.
As well as live concerts and recordings, the group has undertaken educational and outreach projects in the UK, The Netherlands, the USA and South America. Director Micaela Haslam is also a renowned Music for 18 Musicians coach, working both with professional and student ensembles in the preparation of Steve Reich’s iconic piece. She has given numerous talks and workshops about Reich’s work.
Synergy Vocals is featured on a variety of film soundtracks, including Nanny McPhee, Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, Severance, Triangle and Onward, and on television signature tunes including the Home Fires series for ITV (UK).