Festival Statesmen Chorus

Formed in 2009 by Jonathan Bligh, the Festival Statesmen Chorus is a dynamic male voice a capella group based in Adelaide, South Australia. Performing a diverse range of styles and repertoire from classical to contemporary pop music, the chorus provides a platform for Adelaide singers to achieve vocal and performance excellence.

Well-known to Adelaide audiences for their appearances in the Adelaide Fringe Festival, the Adelaide Festival, and several major corporate events, the Festival Statesmen have also been fortunate to headline a number of choral festivals across Australia, including the Festival of Voices (Hobart), Pemulwuy National Male Voice Festival (Brisbane), and the BHA National Barbershop Competition (various). The singers have received numerous accolades over the years, including twice winning the AUS ACA National a cappella competition in Melbourne, a Weekly ‘Pick of the Fringe’ award in the Adelaide Fringe, as well as being gold medallists in the 2018 BHA National Barbershop Competition, for which they received the highest score in Australian barbershop history.

The Festival Statesmen have collaborated with various international artists and ensembles, including Kirby Shaw, the Estonian E Stuudio Youth Choir, the Gesualdo Six, and Timothy Wayne-Wright, formerly of the King’s Singers.