Little Byrds
Four singers exploring the richness of vocal harmony together
The ensemble
Little Byrds is a vocal ensemble bringing together four singers and close friends united by a shared love of vocal music. Our name pays tribute to William Byrd, whose Renaissance polyphony continues to inspire us.
While Renaissance music remains close to our heart, we explore a wide range of repertoire, from Romantic works to contemporary compositions, drawn by the richness and expressive possibilities of the voice.
Little Byrds is composed of Anna Pontalti (mezzo-soprano), Mathieu Willard (countertenor/baritone), Jonathan Brulein (tenor), and Guillaume Morauw (bass).
We all bring years of experience in ensemble singing, having started music at a young age. This shared background, along with our close friendship, shapes the way we sing together: listening closely, blending naturally, and building a sound that is balanced, vibrant, and alive.
The Singers
Anna Pontalti
Mezzosoprano
Anna grew up in the world of choral singing, starting as a child with the Italian choir Coro Vogliam Cantare. As her experience developed, she was selected twice for EuroChoir and invited to sing with the choir of the 9th European Academy for Choral Conductors. Since moving to Belgium in 2019, she has sung as a mezzo-soprano with the octet Attic Voices and joined the Brussels Young Adult Choir (BYAC), where she is now also part of the board. In 2024, she co-founded Little Byrds.
Mathieu Willard
Countertenor/baritone
Mathieu began singing at the age of ten with the children’s choir Les Pastoureaux, where he met Guillaume and Jonathan. After his voice changed, he developed a strong interest in singing as a countertenor, a voice type he continues to explore alongside baritone projects. He has sung with several high-level ensembles, including BEvocaL, the Brussels Young Adult Choir, the Brussels Chamber Choir, and Octopus. He was also part of the ensemble Good Vibrations before joining Little Byrds.
Jonathan Brulein
Tenor
Jonathan discovered music at a young age and joined the boys’ choir Les Pastoureaux in Waterloo at the age of nine, where he first encountered choral singing - and met Mathieu and Guillaume. Over the years, his passion for ensemble singing continued to grow, leading him to join various choirs and projects, including Little Byrds in 2024.
Guillaume Morauw
Bass
Guillaume performed from a young age as a boy soprano and later as a soloist with Les Pastoureaux. He now sings as a bass and has taken part in ensembles such as EuroChoir, BEvocaL, the Brussels Young Adult Choir, Ensemble Lirai, Octopus, and the octet Attic Voices. With a strong passion for ensemble singing and a particular affinity for late Renaissance music, he co-founded the sextet Good Vibrations and, in 2024, Little Byrds. He is also regularly involved in various projects as both a chorister and soloist.
Collaboration
Depending on the project, Little Byrds regularly works with other singers and instrumentalists. These collaborations allow us to explore different repertoires and build programmes around music we genuinely want to share.
In performance, we look for something direct and expressive: music that connects through colour, text, emotion, and the pleasure of singing together.