MONROE, Conn. — Virginia Taylor Grabovsky of Monroe will join the Grammy-nominated vocal group VOCES8 from July 2026. The American soprano auditioned in spring 2026 and will replace Eleonora Poignant.
“Ever since I was a young chorister, VOCES8 has been one of my biggest musical inspirations,” Grabovsky said. “Joining the group now feels truly surreal. I’m incredibly grateful and so excited for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to step into this next chapter of my life. I’ve always dreamed of making music with artists who inspire me not only musically, but personally as well, and I truly can’t imagine a better group to do that with. I’m especially looking forward to connecting with audiences around the world and sharing the joy that music has given me throughout my life.”
“I’m deeply thankful to my family, friends and mentors for their constant support,” she said. “I wouldn’t be here without them, and I carry their encouragement with me as I begin this exciting new journey.”
Grabovsky discovered the joy of choral singing at a young age through the Elm City Girls’ Choir and the United Choir School in New Haven. She found herself drawn to sacred and early repertoire through her time with the Yale Institute of Sacred Music’s choirs and as a choral scholar at several Episcopal churches.
She has performed with ensembles and festivals across America, including the Amherst Early Music Festival, Duke University Chapel Chorworks, and the Spoleto Festival USA. Grabovsky will continue her music studies while based in the UK for her new role with VOCES8.
When she’s not making music, Grabovsky can usually be found exploring new places, getting happily lost in craft stores, or seeking out the perfect bowl of ramen.
Barnaby Smith, artistic director of VOCES8 and the VOCES8 Foundation, expressed enthusiasm over Grabovsky joining the group.
“It is always a particularly exciting moment for us to welcome a new voice into VOCES8, and we are absolutely delighted that Virginia will be joining the group,” he said. “From the very first phrase she sang in her audition, we were immediately moved by the beauty, honesty, and innate musicianship of her singing. There is something unmistakably special in her sound, and a natural connection to the way we make music together.”
Poignant will give her final performance with VOCES8 in Graz, Austria, on June 29, ahead of her farewell concert at the VOCES8 International Summer Festival at Milton Abbey on July 28.
Grabovsky will make her debut with the group in Québec, Canada, as part of the North America tour, before returning to the UK for appearances across the country. Both Poignant and Grabovsky will appear at the VOCES8 International Summer School and Festival.
The 2023 Grammy-nominated British vocal ensemble VOCES8 is the world’s top-streaming classical vocal group, which inspires people through music and shares the joy of singing. Touring globally, the group performs an extensive repertory both in its a cappella concerts and in collaborations with leading musicians, orchestras, conductors and soloists. Versatility and a celebration of diverse musical expression are central to the ensemble’s performance and education ethos, which is shared.
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