The Devon-based vocal ensemble Isca Voices delights audiences by performing a wide range of both sacred and secular repertoire.
Formed in 2008 as an opportunity for former girl choristers from Exeter Cathedral to keep singing together, the group performs both within Devon and in Europe.
The girl choristers section of Exeter Cathedral Choir celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2019, having been founded by Stephen Tanner in 1994. In addition to the regular round of service singing as choristers, the choir have appeared in numerous concerts, broadcasts and recordings and have toured in the USA and many countries across Europe. Unlike the girl choristers at many other cathedrals, the Exeter girls leave the choir at the age of thirteen. After four years as cathedral choristers, the girls are very experienced musicians, both vocally and instrumentally. Isca Voices aims to perform not only from the vast wealth of religious choral music from across the centuries, but also music from the folk, jazz and popular music repertoires in close harmony.
More recently, we have welcomed former Exeter boy choristers into the group, not only to sing lower parts but also as the 'Isca Band' to add an instrumental dimension to our concerts.
The last three years have seen Isca Voices expand yet further to include adult singers on tours to Paris and Rome with highlights being performances in prestigious venues including La Cathédrale Notre Dame, L'Église de la Madeleine (Paris) and St Peter's Basilica (Rome).
In July 2019, Isca Voices released their debut CD ‘Isca Voices’ which features many of their favourites. The CD is available through the ‘Contact’ page or at our concerts.
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Stephen Tanner began his musical career as a chorister in the choir of Coventry Cathedral and studied for a degree in Music at the University of Huddersfield.
For many years he was Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral School and Assistant Organist and Director of the Girl Choristers at Exeter Cathedral. His school music department enjoyed a wide reputation for the breadth and quality of its music making with many former pupils, including one of the world’s most recognisable pop stars, going on to enjoy national and international success in the music world. He founded the Girl Choristers’ section of Exeter Cathedral Choir in 1994 and directed it for 22 years. In this capacity he has numerous broadcasts, recordings and foreign tours to his credit. He was musical director of Exeter Cathedral’s nationally recognised Chorister Outreach Project, working to promote singing in Devon's primary schools and is a former Musical Director of the Exeter Choral Society.
As well as musical director of Isca Voices, Stephen is accompanist and Associate Director of Music of the Exeter Philharmonic Choir and is one half of the organ duo Organ2. He is also joint musical director of the Heritage Singers and Organist and Director of Music at St. Peter’s Church, Budleigh Salterton. He has composed and arranged extensively and has won two national composition competitions. He is an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music serving on both the main and jazz panels.