YOUNG choirs from the Czech Republic and Sweden will stage a “sing-off” against the backdrop of St Michael’s Mount to launch this year’s Cornwall International Male Choral Festival.
Between 9.30am and 10am tomorrow, Sweden’s Svanholm Singers will sing their hearts out on the beach at Marazion alongside the Prague Boys Choir, joined for the festival by the Prague British International School, who will then travel by boat across to St Michael’s Mount.
Around 50 choirs of various ages and nationalities are poised to gather for the 11th biennial festival over the May Bank Holiday weekend, from Thursday to Monday. The largest event of its kind in the world, it encompasses 35 events at 25 venues right across Cornwall, entertaining more than 50,000 people.
The festival will see choirs from across the UK and Europe performing and competing in sacred spaces from Truro Cathedral to churches and chapels in Camborne, Redruth, Paul, Newquay, St Austell, St Neot, Porthleven and St Just in Penwith, as well as attractions including the Hall for Cornwall, King Edward Mine, Healeys Cornish Cyder Farm and Trebah Gardens.
Festival director Gareth Churcher says: “Through all the real challenges around the world and the cost-of-living crisis, there is still clearly a huge appetite for the joy and camaraderie that our festival brings.
“It would be fair to say we are putting on an amazing event in the face of adversity, and we cannot wait to welcome our friends - international and closer to home - for a festival that makes so many people happy.”
Competitions for this event are Category I for more experienced choirs and Category II for less experienced, while educational outreach programmes will see choirs from different cultures working with young people across Cornwall.
The 2024 Festival is also diversifying from the traditional “Male Voice” to welcome Mixed Youth Choirs for the first time.
Tickets range from £10 for Regional Gala Concerts, to between £16 and £26 for International Galas – all available through the Hall for Cornwall Box Office
Full details of the 2024 Cornwall International Male Choral Festival can be found at www.cimcf.uk