Tonight marks the final presentation of the 2010 Bermuda Festival, when the international award-winning a cappella group, Voces8, makes its debut in the first of two performances at City Hall theatre, beginning at 8 p.m.

Founded in 2003 by ex-choristers of Britain's famed Westminster Abbey, the octet has a repertoire ranging from 13th century polyphony to unique jazz and popular arrangements.

The Bermuda programme, entitled 'From Gibbons to Gershwin', will feature a varied collection of this repertoire, and will chart a musical journey spanning 500 years and three continents, with something for everyone, and all of it immaculately performed.

Indeed, Classical Music Daily has summed up the work of this octet as "offering an impressive stage presence, with imaginative theatricality, and a well-balanced programme" thus guaranteeing Festivalgoers a memorable treat to close the season.

As well as being an acclaimed performance ensemble, the members of Voces8 are accomplished and experienced soloists in their own right. They are: Emily Dickens, Andrea Haines, Charles MacDougall, Barnaby Smith, Paul Smith, Rob Smith, Chris Wardle, and Dingle Yandell.

The octet fulfils a busy international schedule. In addition to entertaining audiences across Europe and the UK, it has toured the US, Kenya and China.

Voces8 first achieved success in 2005 at the 44th International Choral Grand Prix in Grizia, Italy, where it won first prize for 'Best Jazz Performance', as well as the audience vote for 'Best Performance'.

The following year, at the 38th International Choral Contest in Tolosa, Spain, it won first prize in both the sacred and secular categories, and also received the highest number of points in the overall competition.

Voces8 is the flagship ensemble of Voces Cantabiles Music (VCM), a British educational foundation based in south-east England, led by artistic director Barnaby Smith. VCM features an elite team of 19 professional performance artists, teachers, facilitators and workshop leaders.

Along with Voces8, the foundation supports Voces Cantabiles Youth Choir, and the Senesino Players, a professional chamber orchestra.

When not on the concert platform, members of Voces8 spend much of their time leading workshops, master classes, and projects with people of all ages and abilities, the aim of which is to inspire creativity through music.

The octet has also released a number of highly popular CDs, including 'From Gibbons to Gershwin', 'Snowed In', a Christmas single, and 'Evensong' - the latter a winning collaboration with legendary hit composers Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley.

For ticket information see websites www.bermudafestival.org or www.bdatix.bm For ticket purchases only telephone 232-2255. For general information about the Festival telephone 232-8499. For in-person ticket purchases, visit BDATIX ticket centre at: the iStore, 46 Reid Street, Hamilton (open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).