The Oxford Gargoyles

The Oxford Gargoyles
Origin Oxford University
Genres A cappella
Years active 1998–present
Website theoxfordgargoyles.com

The Oxford Gargoyles is a mixed-voice jazz a cappella group from Oxford University, England. The group's repertoire is rooted in the jazz songbook but also extends to pop, soul, Latin and gospel numbers. The group was founded in 1998 and has been instrumental in the rise of collegiate a cappella in the United Kingdom. The Gargoyles were involved in organising the BICCAs (British Inter-Collegiate Championship of A Cappella), as well as participating in the Western European category of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella since its inception in 2006. In 2007, the Gargoyles won the Western European semifinal of the ICCAs [1] and competed in the world final, held in the Alice Tully Hall (part of the Lincoln Center in New York City). In 2010, the Gargoyles were the winners of The Voice Festival UK.[2] In 2012, the Gargoyles were crowned the BBC Choir of the Year 'Open Category' winner.[3] In 2014, the group performed again in the Grand Final of the Choir of the Year competition in Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, UK.

The Gargoyles perform at a variety of events in and around Oxford, such as college balls, charity events, and private functions, as well as putting on their own concerts. They have also performed in London at such venues as the Ministry of Defence, the Natural History Museum and the Savoy Hotel, as well as opening for internationally renowned a cappella group The Swingle Singers at the Purcell Room in 2008 and at the Kings Place in 2010.

In 2014, the group toured Hong Kong and Macau, performing at the Hong Kong Sevens, Hong Kong City Hall, the first Oxford Alumni Weekend in Asia, the Hong Kong Fringe Club, the Dom Pedro V Theatre, and ten schools. They were also covered by Radio Television Hong Kong and their performances were broadcast several times on both radio and television, including RTHK Radio 3, TVB Pearl, TVB Jade, and TDM (Macau).

They have toured to the United States several times, appearing at Disneyland in Los Angeles and on The Today Show. They have performed at the Edinburgh Fringe every year since 2006, to acclaim from publications including The Herald[4] and ThreeWeeks.[5] Their 2008 Edinburgh show was awarded the status of an official sell out show.[6] In 2011, their Fringe show earned them five five-star reviews, including Fringe Review and Broadway Baby.[7][8] In January 2011 they supported The Real Group at the opening of the London A Cappella Festival held at the King's Place.

Discography

The Oxford Gargoyles have produced 13 albums, most recently 2014's "Tonehenge".[9] In April 2008 the group was featured on the BBC Radio 3 programme The Choir.[10] In 2011, the group were the featured artists on Radio Tay and tracks from Flyin' Right were played on Jazz FM (UK)

TitleYear
Off The Wall '98-'99
Set In Stone '00-'01
Not Just A Pretty Face '01-'02
That Way Inclined '02-'04
Between A Rock And A Hard Face '04-'06
Sitting On A Rainbow '06-'07
Cloudburst '07-'08
All Right With Me '08-'09
Flyin' Right '10-'11
Up The Scale '11-'12
Musical Statues '12-'13
Gargeology '13-'14
Tonehenge '13-'14

References

  1. ↑ International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella — 2007 results, Varsity Vocals, 2007.
  2. ↑ Results, The Voice Festival UK, 2010.
  3. ↑ , 2012
  4. ↑ Rob Adams, Fringe music — August 28, The Herald, 28 August 2009.
  5. ↑ Jazz A Cappella — The Oxford Gargoyles, ThreeWeeks, Edinburgh, Scotland, August 2009.
  6. ↑ Ticketing information, Edinburgh Fringe, Scotland, 2008.
  7. ↑ http://www.fringereview.co.uk/fringeReview/4257.html
  8. ↑ http://www.broadwaybaby.com/listing.php?id=11558
  9. ↑ The Oxford Gargoyles Shop
  10. ↑ The Choir — 27 April 2008, BBC Radio 3, UK, 27 April 2008.
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