The Tallis Scholars are a British professional early‑music vocal ensemble founded in 1973. They perform a cappella sacred repertoire, typically arranging two singers per part within a core group of ten. The ensemble is led by its founder and conductor, Peter Phillips, and has issued more than 60 recordings on its own Gimell Records label.
The group was established in 1973 by Peter Phillips, a specialist in Renaissance polyphony. From its inception, the ensemble adopted a flexible structure of two singers per vocal line, allowing a rich, balanced sound while maintaining a relatively small core of ten singers. Their focus on historically informed performance quickly positioned them as a leading ensemble in the early‑music field. Over the decades the Tallis Scholars have built a substantial discography and have become synonymous with high‑quality recordings of sacred music from the Renaissance and early Baroque periods.
The Tallis Scholars specialise in a cappella sacred vocal music, concentrating on works from the 15th to early 17th centuries. Their repertoire includes masses, motets, and psalm settings by composers such as Thomas Tallis, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, and Gregorio Allegri. The ensemble is noted for its clear articulation, balanced blend, and attention to historical performance practice. Their recordings often aim to present the music as it might have sounded in its original liturgical context, using period‑appropriate vocal techniques and phrasing.
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Peter Phillips is the founder and artistic director of the Tallis Scholars. The ensemble traditionally consists of ten singers, with two per part, but specific current or former member names are not provided in the available sources.
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The Tallis Scholars have been recognised for their contributions to early music, being elected to the Gramophone Hall of Fame in 2013. In 2023, Gramophone magazine dedicated a special edition to the ensemble’s 50th anniversary. Their extensive catalogue, released through Gimell Records, includes over 60 discs that have become reference recordings for Renaissance sacred music. The 1980 recording of Allegri’s Miserere is frequently cited as a landmark performance, exemplifying the group’s influence on the interpretation of early choral works.