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The Festival is a celebration of
male voice singing across the age ranges, genres and styles.
Most choirs are 'traditional' in style though we welcome
everyone.
Choirs travel to
participate from all over the world, singing in the most
prestigious halls, churches and the cathedral in Cornwall. Over
40 concerts and events are organised in most of the main towns
in
Cornwall (a county whose area covers nearly 1400 square miles or
3500 sq km).
Most concerts are
made up of three or four choirs singing their own pieces of
music, carefully selected to show off the best of their choir.
Each concert has a compère
able to explain programme details to the capacity audiences.
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A very serious
side exists too. Jury members come from across the world to
judge the two International Competitions, give master classes, take
workshops and one to one tuition sessions. While the individual
sessions are very informal, the competitions are not!
In 2009 Dr John
Dickson (USA), Robert Sund (Sweden), Dr Vivien Pike (UK), Dr Roy
Wales (UK), John Harries (UK) and Christopher Gray (Director of
Music, Truro Cathedral) judged the competitions.
In 2011, two
competitions will be held: Male Voice Choirs with 40 and Under Voices; Male Voice Choirs with 41 and Over Voices.
Competitors, whether
boys, youth or adult male choirs will compete in these
classifications. The adjudicators for the 2011 competitions will
be announced soon. |
KEY CONCERT DATES 2011
Wednesday 27th
April
Opening International Gala
Concert, Truro Methodist Church, Boys Choirs
Thursday 28th
April
Regional Gala Concerts:
Falmouth Methodist Church; Richmond Chapel; Saltash
Methodist Church.
Friday 29th April
International Gala
Concert, Truro Cathedral
Regional Gala Concerts:
Porthleven Methodist Church; St Andrew's Church, Redruth;
St Agnes Methodist Church; St Bartholomew's Church,
Lostwithiel
Saturday 30th April
International Gala
Concert, Hall for Cornwall Truro
Regional Gala Concerts:
Launceston Methodist Church; St Pol de Leon Church, Paul;
St Elwyn's Church, Hayle.
Sunday 1st May
Regional Gala Concerts:
All Saints Church Falmouth; Bude Central Methodist Church;
Redruth Methodist Church; St Just Church; St Michael's
Church, Helston; St Michael's Church, Newquay; St Petroc's
Church, Bodmin.
Monday 2nd May
Finalé
International Gala Concert,
Hall for Cornwall, Truro
OTHER KEY DATES 2011
Wednesday 27th
April - Friday 29th April
School outreach workshops
with non-UK choirs visiting local schools for workshops
Friday 29th April
Symposium, workshops and
master classes:
Bristol Hotel, Newquay and other local venues.
Saturday 30th April
International
Competitions, Hall for Cornwall, Truro
Sunday 1st May
Informal Singing
Performances at:
Minack Theatre; The
Lost Gardens of Heligan; The Eden Project.
Monday 2nd May
Informal Singing
Performances at:
The Eden Project.
Other venues also being
used: Pendennis
Castle; Lanhydrock
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Fellowship and friendship are key factors in the
Festival. All Regional Gala Concerts are concluded with
'afterglows' where food and drink (often supplied by local
choirs) are consumed to much singing and fun.
With four
choirs singing in most concerts (more in the International Gala
concerts), the range of styles and
repertoire is a key feature of the Festival because choirs from
outside the UK bring their own folk and religious music for
audience appreciation.
Dubna
Boys Choir on a tour of Mevagissey Harbour, courtesy of
Mevagissey Male Voice Choir |
HAS YOUR CHOIR
THOUGHT OF COMING TO CORNWALL?
Download details:
.pdf (1.3mb)
Word (97-2003 80kb)
Warsaw Boys Choir in
the Eden Project |
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Truro Cathedral and
choir |
The International Competitions
The competitions will be: Choirs of 41 voices and over; choirs
of 40 voices and under. No age distinction is placed on any
category.
Prizes in each category range from £1000 and trophies to certificates of
participation. The competitions are sponsored by
A & P Falmouth.
In 2009
the Champion Choir was awarded both £1000 first prize and the A
& P Championship Trophy.
Trophies were also awarded
for Best Cornish and Best UK choirs in each of the two adult
classes. (for the full 2009 results,
click here).
To talk about
possibilities with Peter Davies, the Festival Director, ring on
+44 1778 347381. (Please remember that the UK operates on GMT
Nov - March and one hour ahead of GMT April - Oct). |
Four Lanes Male
Voice Choir - the winners of the 41 Voices and Over Competition,
Hall for Cornwall, 2009 |
