Acclaimed British vocal ensemble VOCES8’s tours almost always combine teaching, collaboration and performance, and their latest Australian trip is no exception.

Indeed, the ecstatic reception they received by the largely youthful capacity crowd in Subiaco’s elegant St. Joseph’s Church indicated many of the attendees of their workshops were probably present.

VOCES8 at St Joseph’s Church, Perth. Photo © Nic Babic

In addition, young host choir Voyces had the good fortune of joining VOCES8 for two of the items in this concert, under the latter’s alto and director Barnaby Smith. What a thrill that must have been.

Voces8 are internationally renowned for the beauty and precision of their singing. Both qualities were on display in this Perth concert, along with a healthy dose of hearty humility and humour. Though I have to confess the preponderance of novelty songs and arrangements of jazz and pop numbers left me cold. I’m not against them; it’s just a law of diminishing returns, of the novelty wearing off rapidly despite the enormous skill and artistry lavished upon the music.

I was, however, in the minority, and the audience clearly adored every minute of this two-hour or so concert,...