Vocal Ensemble Little Byrds - A cappella group

The ensemble

Four singers exploring the richness of vocal harmony together

Little Byrds is a Belgian 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, mostly a cappella, from Romantic works to contemporary compositions, drawn by the richness and expressive possibilities of the voice.

Based around Brussels, 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.

Discover our music and repertoire

The Singers

Anna Pontalti

Mezzosoprano

I've been singing for as long as I can remember. My parents like to say they enrolled me in a choir because they were tired of me constantly humming, singing, or whistling every melody I heard. That joined the Coro Vogliam Cantare in my hometown of Trento, Italy, and stayed with the choir for more than ten years, first as a child and later as part of its female vocal ensemble.

In 2016, I was selected to sing with EuroChoir for the first time, followed by a second edition in 2018. One of my strongest memories from that experience is singing Palestrina's Sicut cervus, with the choir surrounding the audience. Hearing the different voices coming together from all around was something I hadn't experienced before, and it made me appreciate even more the richness of mixed-voice singing. Ever since, I always try to stand next to a bass whenever I get the chance!

Since moving to Belgium in 2019, I have sung as a mezzo-soprano with the octet Attic Voices and joined the Brussels Young Adult Choir (BYAC) from its beginnings, where I now also serve on the board. In 2024, I co-founded Little Byrds.

Outside of music, I work as a functional consultant and project manager in IT. I enjoy cooking and sharing meals with friends, discovering new places, and going back to Italy whenever I can to spend time with my family.

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.

Jonathan Brulein

Tenor

I discovered music at a young age and joined the boys’ choir Les Pastoureaux in Waterloo at the age of nine, where I first encountered choral singing - and met Mathieu and Guillaume. Over the years, my passion for ensemble singing continued to grow, leading me to join various choirs and projects, including Little Byrds in 2024.

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.