Moira Smiley works internationally as a composer-vocalist. Based in Los Angeles, she leads her fiery roots vocal-band, Moira Smiley & VOCO, travels the world as a soloist in early and traditional music and creates new work with dance, theatre and film.   Moira was born in Vermont, moved to Indiana to pursue a piano performance degree at IU School of Music, and finished with a degree in Early Music Vocal Performance, having studied voice with Thomas Binkley, Paul Elliott, Paul Hillier and Alan Bennett.  While at Indiana University, Moira toured with her vocal quartet, VIDA, singing a cappella folk song from Eastern Europe and various other vibrant harmony traditions. VIDA was represented by IMG Artists, recorded three CDs of traditional and original songs, and had an exciting seven year career that culminated in concerts at Lincoln Center and other prestigious fine arts and folk venues in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Moira’s mother tongue is probably traditional folk song.  She moved to California to sing with KITKA Eastern European Vocal Ensemble, and continues to work with KITKA – recently premiering the new folk-opera “Rusalka:  Between the Worlds” that was launched in Ukraine and the U.S. with Mariana Sadovska.  Moira continues to study Irish Sean Nós (old-style) singing and Appalachian ballad and dance-song.  She recorded a solo CD, “Rua”, of Irish, Appalachian and her own songs – “rua” means “red” in gaelic.  With VOCO, Moira fuses a new sound with voices, banjo, cello and percussion that is rooted in traditional song – in 2006 VOCO embarks on a project of arranging Bela Bartók’s “Mikrokosmos” piano miniatures for voices – recently premiered at Disney Hall/CalArts’ REDCAT Theater.

Moira’s  been writing music since the age of six – focusing on voices-as-instruments, and in harmony.  Her recent commissions have been by choral ensembles, dance and theatre companies.  In Fall, 2006 she will premiere two voice & movement pieces with TripDance Theatre at the venerable Ford Amphitheater in Los Angeles.  A few of her songs are being sung by thousands of high school and college students across the U.S.!  Moira’s soundtracks for St. Louis-based dance-theater company Gash/Voigt and AnnonyArts have produced two lush CDs called “Sacred Ground and “Changing Woman” – the latter written for masked choir and dancers.

Moira co-directs and teaches at Ooolation! Singing Camp (California) and other performing arts programs for singers like the Swannanoah Gathering and Worldsongs Camp.

Moira is as accomplished as she is motivated, with wide-ranging interests and a kind of passionate inner vision of her own work which Barbara Thornton liked to call “having fire in her belly.”   I think this is a young artist who would have captured Barbara's interest, and I'm sure we will be hearing more from her in the future.
Ben Bagby - founder/director of renowned medieval ensemble, Sequentia

“The intoxicating live vocals of [VOCO singers] Jess Basta and Moira Smiley enhanced [TripDance Theater’s] ‘Ups and Downs’…” – Dance Magazine, January, 2006

One of the most striking features, one that many have been curious about since the release of the film's trailer, are Smiley's vocal contributions that help give The Affair of the Necklace its unique personality. Nominated for Best Vocal Performance in Academy Awards (filmtracks.com)
–Christopher Coleman - Tracksounds.com

Anima Fortis performed early Italian Baroque music with Soprano Moira Smiley, a young woman with a liking for the dramatic and a voice that can turn from what would be its natural form - a folk-music sort, to golden warblings , angelic origin or steel... –Bloomington Herald Times

VIDA's great appeal stems from its members' spirited voices, unassuming charm and sure sense for repertoire. –Billboard Magazine

The reason to experience VIDA is the Voice, the pure, clean wall of sonic perfection that emanates from the place where these women join their individual vocals . –Ryder Magazine

Praise for compositions:

Moira Smiley's "Find Ways" is as complex as any progressive-rock number, a stunning web of rhythm and modality... –Seven Days Review 7/14/05, Burlington, Vermont