THE 12th Cornwall International Male Choral Festival takes place this weekend (May 1 to May 3), with 45 choirs of various ages and nationalities taking part in 35 events at 25 venues across Cornwall.

The crystal voices of Jitro (The Daybreak) from the Czech Republic will launch the festival on Friday (May 1) by singing against a backdrop of St Michael’s Mount as it reopens following a 12-week post-storm clear-up operation.

Among those preparing to travel to Cornwall for the first time are the Boys Choir of the University of Arts Tirana in Albania, and the Chorale Saint Dominique De Bujumbura from the East African nation of Burundi.

The City of Bath Male Choir will make its inaugural visit, performing in Truro Cathedral at the International Gala Concert launch event on Friday evening, and for the Category II competition on Saturday evening; at the Sunday Morning Service at St Michael’s Church, Newquay, and a Regional Gala Concert at St Andrew’s Church, Redruth on Sunday evening.

Founded by Grenville Jones in 2007 and now conducted by his son Laurie, the choir is one of the best-loved in England. It has toured Europe, the USA and Japan, and reached the finals of BBC1’s Last Choir Standing, singing to an Saturday evening audience of an estimated 13 million viewers. The boys and their party of 80 will stay in Newquay for the duration of the weekend,

An extensive programme for the 12th biennial world choral festival also features choirs from across Cornwall and the UK, including current festival champions Peterborough Male Choir, singing in venues from Saltash to St Just-in-Penwith.

A full list of all events can be found at www.cimcf.uk. Ticket prices range from £10 to £16 and are available through the Visit Truro Box Office at www.visittruro.org.uk.