Escala (Formerly Scala) are an electronic string group who reached the Final of Series 2 of Britain's Got Talent. They were aged between 23 & 26 at the time of their audition.
In their audition, they performed to 'Palladio' originally by Karl Jenkins. Simon described the quartet's performance as 'really really good', with Piers adding 'I think you've got a real chance in this competition'.
In the Semi-Finals, they performed to 'Live and Let Die' by Paul McCartney and Wings. Piers remarked 'I think there are bookmakers all over the country ripping up the odds because you girls have become the red hot favourites to win this competition', with Amanda adding 'If that doesn't get the Royal seal of approval I don't know what act will'. They won the Public Vote and so therefore immediately advanced onto the Final.
In the Final, they once again performed to 'Palladio' originally by Karl Jenkins. Amanda remarked 'I think your world class [and] you could represent this country all over the world', with Simon adding 'This is the closest competition that I've ever been involved in [as] that was a really really good performance'. They ultimately concluded the series in fourth place, overall.
After BGT[]
On 6th June 2008 Escala performed at the first night of the nationwide Britain's Got Talent tour in London and on 8th June it was revealed that they had signed a £1.5 million contract deal with Sony BMG.
In July 2008 they were signed to perform as part of a new promotional campaign for Sky Sports coverage of the 2008–09 football season. The high-profile campaign began airing on 19th July with Escala performing "Palladio", was filmed at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London and featured them performing with clips from football matches. The promotional campaign was also used to promote other upcoming sports events on the channel. They performed at the 2008 FA Community Shield on 11th August at Wembley Stadium, and accompanied Hayley Westenra when she sang the national anthem.
On 20th September 2008, Escala performed at the Help for Heroes rugby union challenge match at Twickenham Stadium, in London in aid of wounded British servicemen and women. On 11th May 2009, Escala made their American debut on The Oprah Winfrey Show as part of her World's Got Talent show with Simon Cowell.
On 25th May 2009, Escala performed as guests, non-competitively, on the second semi-final of the third series of Britain's Got Talent. The group performed on BBC Radio 2's Friday Night is Music Night on 12th June 2009 and followed it up with a performance at Lord's during a charity match between Middlesex and the Rajasthan Royals on 6th July 2009. On 1st August 2009, Escala played in concert with Anastacia at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.
On 1st November 2009, Escala performed "Palladio", "Children" and "Kashmir" at the Women of Rock event in London's Royal Albert Hall in aid of the Caron Keating Foundation. On 25th November 2009, Escala were guests on the afternoon live Alan Titchmarsh Show, on ITV. On 4th December 2009, Escala performed "Palladio" at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards Ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada. The quartet also features on "Louder than Words", from Pink Floyd's The Endless River.
Escala revealed their debut album, titled Escala, to an audience of about 400 media at Whitehall Palace, in London on 23rd September 2008. Produced by Trevor Horn, it was released in May 2009 and peaked at #2 on the Official Albums Chart, with singles 'Palladio' and 'Kashmir' charting at at #39 and #87 in the same week. Other songs on the album included covers of Robert Miles's "Children" and Wings' "Live and Let Die".
On 29th October 2008 they performed the soundtrack for the premiere of the James Bond film Quantum of Solace at the Odeon Leicester Square during the London Film Festival. In late March and April 2009, Escala began a regional promotional tour of the United Kingdom. Escala also performed at the 250th anniversary of George Federich Handel in front of Queen Elizabeth II on 5 June 2009 and were met by the Foundling choir and Thomas Coram Middle school Choir.
Controversy[]
The four members of Escala are professional musicians who have had experience of performing in orchestras and on tour. However, with Britain's Got Talent being a competition for "undiscovered talent", their experience was said to run counter to the spirit of the show, which Escala refuted. They were also alleged to have been invited to audition for Britain's Got Talent by Simon Cowell after they supposedly played the X Factor wrap party in late 2007. However, ITV refused claims that this was unfair.
The members of Escala denied that they had played at the X Factor wrap party, but on 18th November 2009 on This Morning with Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby they admitted that they played at the wrap party that one of Escala's family members had arranged. They were told it could help their career, which it did, but quartet member Izzy Johnston still claims that she had played as part of a string section backing for Michael Bublé in his appearances as a guest on the show.