World-traveling a cappella group travels to BYU-I
- posted: 26 Feb. 2008
- scrollarts@byui.edu
Coming to the BYU-Idaho campus is the world-traveling a cappella group The King’s Singers. The group members will be sharing their vocal abilities on Feb. 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Barrus Concert Hall. Admission is $12 for BYU-I students and $24 for the general public.
The group includes David Hurley, Robin Tyson, Paul Phoenix, Philip Lawson, Christopher Gabbitas and Stephen Connolly. The group was founded by Al Hume and Simon Carrington in 1968. The two performed with the group for 25 years. The group has six members who perform a variety of musical pieces.
Stephen Connolly has currently been in the group the longest: 20 years. Phillip Lawson has been performing for the group 14 years and was asked to join by Simon Carrington.
Lawson sings high baritone but started in the group as a low baritone.
Sometimes certain singing parts are harder to learn than others.
“Inner parts are harder than the top line which mostly has the tune — our parts are often a random collection of seemingly unrelated notes, so yes, it is difficult sometimes,” Lawson said.
Singing harmony can be a different experience than singing melody.
“Sometimes, depending on the music, I usually have to sing ‘inside’ parts — they have no recognizable tune, so they can be tricky to learn,” Tyson said.
And although it is not always easy to learn a part, the effect is great.
The group does a lot of traveling.
“I love singing in Salt Lake City in the Conference Center,” Tyson said.
The group has traveled to Vienna, Amsterdam, Beirut, London, Korea and Carnegie Hall.
“I mostly enjoy the traveling,” Tyson said, “but there are some difficult moments, and I certainly miss my wife and children.”
Tyson joined the group in 2001.
“I was chosen, like the other guys, because I filled all the criteria required in being a King’s Singer. Chief among these is vocal flexibility,” Tyson said.
The group performs sacred and secular music from the Renaissance up to today.
“We do anything that suits the group sound. I really enjoyed the folk/ballad album we just finished recording in a studio in London — classically trained singers don’t get to perform pop much,” Lawson said.
The King’s Singers don’t stick to one particular genre when they perform.
“I love the variety and don’t have an out-and-out favorite,” Tyson said. 
