Peter Davies Festival Director

Dr. Roy Wales Festival Consultant

INTRODUCTION

Male voice choirs/ensembles will once again have a wonderful opportunity to gather in Cornwall, one of the most beautiful counties of England, for a unique festival of male voice choir singing, workshops, competitions, socialising and sightseeing. The male voice choir tradition in Cornwall has long been a significant part of county cultural life and there are currently about thirty-four male voice choirs singing in the County.

This fourth International Festival will be centred on the very attractive Cathedral county town of Truro, but all choirs involved in the Festival will have also have the chance to perform in other Cornish Towns and venues. The first two Festivals, in May 2003 and 2005, were considered to be resounding successes with 50 choirs registering in 2005 and over 2,500 singers taking part in 32 concerts and events in 26 different venues.
The 2007 event broke all records - including the largest number of choirs participating - 56 adult and 12 youth and boy choirs - the largest number of singers (over 3,000), and the largest aggregate audience (over 30,000)
The press reported that the Festival had exceeded everyone's expectations and was a triumph for the organisers, with audience attendances excellent and friendship between choirs marvellous. Practically every concert was packed out.

The Festival aims to bring male voice choirs from outside Cornwall together to join with Cornish choirs in a spirit of musical friendship and song. In the first two Festivals, choirs from England,Wales, Holland, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Switzerland, Finland, Eire, Faroe Islands and Jersey (Channel Islands), as well as many Cornish choirs, took part. Choirs and ensembles of all sizes, ages and traditions are invited with their supporters to join in this exciting third Festival, and Cornwall looks forward to welcoming you.

Peter Davies

Artistic Director

Colne Valley MVC – UK  1st prize Winners 2007

Linkoping University MVC-Sweden International Trophy

Four Lanes MVC- Cornwall  Best Cornish Choir