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.

Guillaume Morauw

Bass

Singing has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, but it is when I joined the boys’ choir Les Pastoureaux at the age of 8 that I discovered the thrill of making music together, a feeling that has only grown stronger over time. There, I received a solid musical education as a boy alto and learnt the discipline of choral singing.

When my voice broke - quite a pivotal moment for any young boy chorister! - it only made me more eager to keep developing my voice and my curiosity to explore new repertoire and musical settings. I have been performing with a wide range of choirs and ensembles including Good Vibrations, the EuroChoir, BEvocaL, the Brussels Young Adult Choir, Ensemble Lirai, Octopus, and the octet Attic Voices, while regularly being invited to join projects as a chorister or soloist, giving me the chance to work with renowned conductors and across of a broad spectrum of choral and classical music. Singing with Little Byrds brings together my affinity for late Renaissance polyphony and my love for the intimacy, flexibility and precision of small ensembles.

Outside of music, you’ll usually find me cycling somewhere on the Belgian roads and beyond… or watching sports comfortably on the sofa. Alongside my day job, I also work behind the scenes helping other choirs grow.

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.

Mathieu Willard

Countertenor/baritone

I began singing at the age of ten with the children's choir Les Pastoureaux, where I met Guillaume and Jonathan. Following my voice change, I developed a strong interest in countertenor singing, a vocal range I continue to explore alongside my work as a baritone.

Over the years, I have performed with several renowned ensembles, including BEvocaL, the Brussels Young Adult Choir, the Brussels Chamber Choir, and Octopus. Before joining Little Byrds, I was also a member of the ensemble Good Vibrations.

Beyond performing, I have developed a passion for the technical side of music. As a sound engineer, I enjoy working with choirs to help them capture and preserve beautiful performances through high-quality recordings of concerts and choral works.

Outside of music, I love to travel, particularly by bicycle. My passion for cycling has taken me on adventures across Europe, allowing me to combine my love of exploration with the freedom of the open road.

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.