The Swingle Singers

Special appearance by the Rutgers Preparatory School Madrigal Singers.

For more than half a century THE SWINGLES have pushed the boundaries of vocal music. The seven young singers that make up today’s London-based group are driven by the same innovative spirit that has defined the five-time Grammy® winners since they first made waves in the 1960s. With their forthcoming album Deep End (due early 2015), The Swingles celebrate that legacy by starting a whole new chapter.

In 1963, American-born Ward Swingle first assembled a group of Parisian session singers to sing Bach’s keyboard music. The resulting album, Jazz Sebastian Bach, launched the Swingle Singers to fame. Since then their repertoire has grown to include a huge variety of music, as well as new original songs. They have released more than 50 recordings, winning five Grammy® awards and appearing on numerous film and TV soundtracks including Sex and the City and Glee.

The group’s versatility has led to collaborations with artists as diverse as the Modern Jazz Quartet, Jamie Cullum and Labrinth. Luciano Berio was one of the first composers to explore the sound of the Swingles’ amplified voices in an orchestral setting, and the group continues to perform his groundbreaking Sinfonia around the world, including recent performances at the Royal Festival Hall and La Scala.

In addition to a busy touring schedule that regularly takes them to North and South America, Europe and Asia, The Swingles present their own London A Cappella Festival at Kings Place each January in partnership with Ikon Art Management. The festival is the first of its kind in the capital, welcoming the finest vocal talent from around the world.

The Rutgers Preparatory School Madrigal Singers were founded in May 1994 by director Mary Szeles. Since then, members of the group have regularly been selected into the NJ All State High School Honor Choirs and National High School Choirs, as well as the Eastern Division and National American Choral Directors Association High School Honor Choirs. They have participated in the New Jersey High School Choral Festival, receiving “Superior” ratings. In 2000 they were invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in the Annual Madrigal Festival, and they also participated in the performance of the Fauré Requiem under the direction of Dr. Anton Armstrong. In addition to a commitment to musical excellence, community service has been an integral part of their mission as they share the gift of song with senior citizens and the surrounding community. The 2017-2018 Madrigal Singers include 16 students in grades 10-12.