About

Skylark, one of the world's leading vocal ensembles, blends some of America’s most virtuosic voices into an emotionally impactful and cohesive whole. Through innovative, imaginative, and interdisciplinary programming, Skylark aims to redefine the choral experience for artists and audiences alike. From its “homebase” in Eastern Massachusetts to premiere venues like the Met Cloisters, Spivey Hall, and the Morgan Library, Skylark is setting a global standard in the choral arts.

Artistic Director Matthew Guard’s well-researched and creative programs have been described as “engrossing” (WQXR New York) and “original, stimulating, and beautiful” (BBC Radio 3). Skylark’s performances have been called “gripping” by The Times of London and “thrilling” by Gramophone Magazine. With “some of Boston’s best singers” (Boston Globe), the ensemble creates a sound that “can sway you softly into calm and then all but throw you across the room with sheer harmonic force” (Thought Catalog).

Skylark's performance at St. John’s Smith Square in London was hailed as “the highlight” of a festival featuring some of Britain’s greatest choirs, showcasing their ability to engage audiences on a global stage. Limelight Magazine (Australia) has called Skylark a "serious contender" for a list of the “world's best choirs,” underscoring the ensemble's growing international recognition.

The ensemble has received four GRAMMY® nominations for outstanding recordings and achieved multiple Billboard Traditional Classical Chart entries with recent albums. Skylark’s GRAMMY®-nominated 2024 album, Clear Voices in the Dark, is the first American recording of Francis Poulenc’s Figure Humaine, paired with songs from the American Civil War Era. The album has been hailed as “inspired” (Gramophone), “otherworldly” (WCRB Boston), “a huge success” (BBC), and “spectacular” (Textura).

Skylark's groundbreaking “story score” concept, which integrates narrative with choral music, has transformed the choral experience. Notably, Once Upon a Time earned a GRAMMY® nomination, and Skylark’s commissioned version of A Christmas Carol (with text abridged by Artistic Director Matthew Guard and music by composer Benedict Sheehan) was performed by the BBC Singers and broadcast internationally. This year, Skylark will present A Christmas Carol at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City, featuring actress Christine Baranski as the narrator, with the original Charles Dickens handwritten manuscript on display.

Skylark's collaborations further exemplify its commitment to innovation. The ensemble has partnered with renowned jazz pianist Dan Tepfer (on Words My Mother Left Me), celebrated chef Daniel Boulud (on the launch of La Vie En Rose), and bestselling author Dan Brown (Sub Rosa, exploring hidden symbols in music).

In 2024, Skylark will celebrate five sold-out performances in New York City, including a groundbreaking three-concert residency at the Hispanic Society Museum and Library inspired by the museum collections.

Matthew Guard, Artistic Director

Four-time GRAMMY® Nominee Matthew Guard is quickly earning a reputation as one of the most innovative and thoughtful programmers in American choral music. Praised for his “catalyzing leadership” (Q2/WQXR) and “musically creative and intellectually rich” programming (Opera Obsession), Matthew is passionate about communicating something unique in each concert and recording. He scours the world of available repertoire for each program, exhaustively researches each piece, and crafts concerts and printed programs that captivate audiences with their hidden connections and seamless artistry. In addition to his day-to-day leadership of Skylark and role as a conductor in concerts, Matthew is also an active arranger and editor of scores, as he rarely finds programming ideas that will truly sing without at least one piece specifically arranged or composed for the program.

“Matthew Guard knows something about the importance of programming, and how to achieve excellence in the process."
- Classics Today

“Matthew Guard, conducted with small, precise gestures, which gave maximum effect: every note was hand-crafted, shades of speed and dynamic were meticulously observed, and the choral blend was superlative."
- Music OMH (London)

"Extraordinary breadth of programming..."
- Limelight Magazine (Australia)

“Conductor Matthew Guard’s own arrangements – a stately, hazily optimistic version of 'When This Cruel War Is Over', a plaintive take of 'Soldier’s Memorial Day' and finally a 'Battle Hymn of the Republic' that transcended schoolyard mockery – were true to the spirit of the times."
- Lucid Culture (NYC)