Choral Contemplation: Voces8's Katie Jeffries-Harris

For this week's Choral Contemplation, we're delighted to welcome back singer and Somerville alumna Katie Jeffries-Harris (2013, Music).
Katie usually spends her time touring the world with professional vocal ensemble Voces8. In this conversation with Will Dawes, our Director of Chapel Music and also a professional singer, she discusses her journey from Somerville to professional singing and shares some of the music that means the most to her.
She also brought with her some beautiful recordings of Voces8 performing the music in question. We hope you enjoy the music and the insights!

[@bmf1949]

What a delightful young woman! Thank you so much for all the pleasure you and your Voces colleagues give us. In the times we live, you enrich and lighten our days.

[@gezley100]

I'm in love.

[@rodrumble6202]

An inspiration for an 80 year old; that you will be living music long after I've departed. Thankyou, Rod

[@Clearphish]

Katie's first outings with Voces 8 were ultra serious, but she has transformed herself into a fount of joy. Everyone in the group is magnificent. If asked who I appreciate the most, Katie always come to mind. Happy to have found this on my feed, and very grateful for Voces 8. I joined our parish choir back in 1952 and have continued to sing, whenever invited, ever since. Byrd, Bach, Palestrina, Folk, Jazz, & Blues. (anything good from the past 5 centuries) 😲 Don't know why there isn't a singing emoji 😉

[@s1nd3r3llee]

😲 Here is a singing emoji!

[@joata43]

We are all blessed by Voces8 and such great professionals such as Katie. They bring so much joy to my life. They are an international treasure.

[@heatherstub]

Indeed. At nearly 58, I still remember those choral songs I sang in high school, and singing them along with their recordings is such a joy! Oh how I wish that I could qualify for a scholarship, because I'm always learning, and I truly believe that music keeps me young. It's a fantastic addiction! Just look at Pat Metheny; at 68, he's still got all his hair! He's slowed down a bit, which happens, but he's always looking for young musicians who'd like to perform with him, and I've had a lifelong dream of singing with him since 1982. I'm still trying. After a nearly 23-year battle with Trigeminal Neuralgia, I'm finally beginning to come out of that dark tunnel, and boy! Does it feel good! Music has been a constant companion throughout my life, and there were too many very dark days when I couldn't listen to it, because it was so painful! Fortunately, with Infrarred Laser therapy at home, I'm making a miraculous recovery, and I hope to be off most of my meds by the end of the year. Also, being totally blind since birth, I've always maintained my independence, and that means more to me now more than ever. Even if I must relocate to France, (where I lived for two years as a child), I'm willing to do that to help me return to better health, so I can live out the rest of my life singing and touring this world to represent the blind. I can't do it alone, however, so many prayers go up to heaven for the right connection. Glory to God!

[@applemac100100]

Agreed

[@petersmall1574]

@@heatherstub Singing has also been an essential part of my life. Bless you for keeping at it.

[@mkshffr4936]

Dear Voces8, I really think you need to feature Katie more often. Pure silk.

[@saetmusic]

What a wonderful and fascinating program. First, it is always a pleasure to meet a member of VOCES8 and get to know them a little better and Katie is a special treat to listen to. This show answered questions that I had wondered about for a long time concerning background, training and experience, and ,especially, the selection process for a member of VOCES8. Was it, "Hey, I know this alto you should hear." or the lengthy, rigorous and thorough process it turned out to be. Katie is a joy! This show is a gem!

[@s1nd3r3llee]

Great interview. Katie, you are wonderful!

[@storytellingproject]

This group gives me so much joy. Thank you. It is nice to get to know its members a little.

[@paradiddleday]

Katie- a fine musician and a dear person!

[@johndyer8111]

Thank you for posting an intelligent discussion about music.

[@frogmouth]

Voces 8 are to be treasured.

[@1961Lara]

Wonderful! I have just very recently discovered Voces8! I am mesmerized! My church choir does mostly early polyphony. It is alive and well! Victoria, Byrd, Josquin Dez Prez, Palestrina.....

[@foggylogic]

So happy Katie chose Ne Irascaris as one of her showcase pieces - it is my absolute favourite of all the Voces8 recordings so far.

[@richardbreitling6537]

The day Katie leaves Voces8 I cry.

[@frankorusso]

Amabile da tutti i punti di vista e... d'ascolto!!! 🥰🥰🥰

[@Pensivata]

Greetings from Taiwan. So pleased you said Bach.. I am a double bass player, and I always gravitate to Bach when I feel the need for a practice blitz - he's simply the "God of Harmony". Indeed, although I like to play solo classical, I also play in a jazz band - and Bach really helps my improvisation too - after all - all those jazz chords & bebop stuff - Bach was already using them back in the 16th century..

[@heatherstub]

Ah!! Have you heard of Pat Metheny?

[@Pensivata]

@@heatherstub Indeed. I often play many of his numbers - Bright Size Life in particular.

[@petersmall1574]

Nina Simone would often interpolate passages from Bach in her piano playing during live performances. In an interview I saw with her she named Bach as her favorite composer.

[@timatkinson01]

Is the track listing accurate? The version of the Harris anthem is from a completely different album, not one by Voces 8.

[@timatkinson01]

...plus the final track is Byrd's Ne Irascatis rather that the Civitas Sancti Tui given in the listing!

[@thesaucegroup1877]

7:25

[@catkin3]

Cats or dogs? Right answer!!