A record 2,149 primary pupils, from Scilly to Okehampton, joined Truro Cathedral Choristers’ Mega Zoom Assembly on International Women’s Day. 

The pupils learned songs celebrating women and heard an inspiring talk about courageous women from mission lead Sarah Yardley of Creation Fest and the Canon at Truro Cathedral.

Finally everyone was treated to a surprise motivational message from Melissa Quinn, head of Spaceport Cornwall. 

This was the third virtual chorister assembly, with numbers rising from 800 on the first one, last July, as schools enthuse about the opportunity for pupils to be inspired by the choristers and gain a taste for leading each other across the county. 

Before the assembly began, the pupils from 25 schools in their classrooms and sportshalls rehearsed the songs across Zoom, led by the choristers under director of music, Christopher Gray. 

Then the assembly proper began, themed around women’s courage with the leadership baton passing out to pupils across a 100 mile geographic region who led prayers and readings via specially created videos. 

Sarah’s talk celebrated women who were ‘brave hope carriers’ from Biblical times, those like St Ia and St Morwenna in Cornwall’s history and, right up to present day role models, like Truro’s Bimini Love, who set up the charity Street Cramps, aged just 14. 

 At the close, just before joining in the now familiar, ‘Choristers’ Cornish Blessing’, the pupils, choristers and teachers were surprised with a message sent specially by the head of Spaceport Cornwall. 

Melissa spoke of how proud she was to be one of the very few women in leadership positions in the space industry and laid out all the possibilities in the industry for girls in Cornwall - be that in spacesuit fashion design, climate change research, communications or food technology.  

She recalled the courage needed to take on great challenges and her experience of disappointment when things don’t go to plan.  

Interim Dean Simon Robinson, a former teacher and headteacher, said: “I welcome this important part of the mission of the cathedral, drawing on the skills of so many different people. 

“As a headteacher I was always keen to develop leadership skills in the children I worked with. Empowering young people, listening to inspiring messages and sharing the skills and talents of children, not just our Choristers but also children in schools across Cornwall and Devon fits with the vision and mission of the cathedral as a place of welcome and celebration, a place for all. 

“It is always good to invite children and families to visit the cathedral and, as I said in the Mega Zoom, please visit this amazing place, join us on the Easter trail or at any of the very many services during Holy Week and Easter. This is the cathedral for Cornwall, for everyone who lives, works and visits here, a message that I hope will be heard across the county. 

The concept of the Chorister Zoom Assembly was created by charity campaigner and chorister parent Esmé Page. Its purpose is to share the inspirational musical expertise of the choristers and to provide a platform for leading and teaching each other: growing in musical skill and aspiration, in understanding the Christian faith and developing confidence as young leaders. 

“Music is under real threat in schools today,’ said Esmé. “So it’s vital we share expertise widely and that we learn together. This project brings high level tuition right into the classroom with the choristers hopefully sowing seeds in their peers that grow into a lifelong passion for singing. 

“The project is also very much about encouraging a taste for leadership in young people – about the magic that happens when children lead children. For an eight year old girl in the isles of Scilly to lead 2,000 of her peers across the whole Duchy must be a memorable experience and one, which, we hope, gives confidence to step out further in those new leadership boots.”

Laura Sampson, worship co-ordinator and HTLA at St Mary’s CoE where 80 pupils joined the Zoom assembly said: “These times together give a real sense of being part of something bigger than just our school and it’s so important for the children to feel connected through song and sharing together. 

“Our girls felt particularly empowered seeing the prayers they had written be used to lead others in this context. Our staff were moved by the message and the example of the children leading.” 

Jackie Marshall, base leader at St Martins, Five Islands Academy, where 17 children joined the assembly added: “The children loved being part of the Zoom assembly, connecting us all together across the county. 

“It was especially amazing to hear the messages from Sarah Yardley and Melissa Quinn, inspiring not just our girls but all of us – helping us believe we can do anything and hearing stories of inspiring women who have blazed trails throughout history and today.”