It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr Roy Wales BEM. Roy founded the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival in 2003, was its first Festival Director and latterly was made Vice President of the organisation. Roy was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2020 for services to Choral Music and was a hugely respected musical director in many genres of music making. His work in the early 2000’s, along with sheer passion and determination, created the legacy that still is one of the largest festivals of male choral music in the world. As part of this Roy led many masterclasses that inspired numerous choristers and emerging choral directors which has added to the legacy already created but just as importantly afforded many musical friends along the way. Roy will be sorely missed and our sincere condolences are offered to his wife Chris and the family at this sad time.
We Need You!
CIMCF is crowdfunding to support the Shchedryk Children's Choir from Kyiv, Ukraine to be able to take part in the 2024 festival in Cornwall.
Life for people in Ukraine is extremely challenging at present. For children and young people they have seen their daily lives and routines completely destroyed. However the children's choir in Kyiv are still rehearsing, albeit in underground shelters sometimes, and enjoying their love of singing. We are hoping that with your support we can bring these children to Cornwall for the 2024 CIMCF, enjoy their beautiful singing as well as giving them a break from the daily struggles that they are experiencing.
If you are able to help in this exciting opportunity please click on the link below to visit our Crowdfunder campaign to read and watch a short video all about it and make a pledge if you can.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/shchedryk-childrens-choir---ukraine-cimcf-visit-1
CIMCF is delighted to announce the appointment of Roger Bush as Trustee/Director. Roger has had a long affiliation with CIMCF and brings with him a wealth of experience. He will be supporting the Festival Artistic Director (FD) in overseeing promotion of the festival and Gareth Churcher (FD) commented: “It is an absolutely privilege to welcome Roger to the team, I have had the honour of working with him before and I am excited to be doing so again”.
Plans are now well underway for the 2024 CIMCF (02-06 May) with close to 50 choirs from all over the world joining us in Cornwall during May. Further details can be found at www.cimcf.co.uk
The Cornwall International Male Choral family was extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of one of its most highly regarded supporters. In addition to the many civic duties that John undertook for Hayle and Cornwall more widely, John was an integral part to the CIMCF governance and leadership team.
Bruce Taylor, Chairman of the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival (CIMCF) Board of Directors said, “John’s sudden passing has come as a great shock to us all. He devoted his life to public service and with all of his commitments we were so fortunate at CIMCF that he was able to serve as a main Board Director, bringing his talents of influence, experience and guidance to our Charity. Without doubt, he will be sadly missed by all at CIMCF and indeed by all who knew him”.
John joined Hayle Town Council in 1982 and served his local community until his passing. During this time he was the leader for Cornwall Council and prior to this was teacher and Deputy Head at Humphry Davy School, Penzance. John was always a keen male voice choir supporter having also been President of Praze Hayle Male Choir.
“I had the huge honour and privilege of working with John in many of his long standing appointments and always appreciated his candour, guidance and integrity. He will be sorely missed as an upstanding pillar of the community” reflected Gareth Churcher, CIMCF Festival Artistic Director.
Our love, thoughts and sincerest condolences go to John’s family and closest friends.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday the 10th of January, 2023 at 2pm at Truro Cathedral. For those unable to attend in person the service will be live streamed and can be accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuxccL_wqFE
Congratulations to all the competing choirs in this category - below are the results for the 40 Voices and Under class.
Watch the winning compositions for the 2020 ICC!
CIMCF is sad to report the passing of long standing supporter of the festival, Mr John Langdon.
Mr Langdon was a steadfast supporter and Patron of CIMCF for many years and donated the John Langdon Cup for Youth Choirs as can be seen in the covering image. He first became a patron for the 2005 Festival and remained so for the next seven. The John Langdon Trophy was introduced into the 2015 Festival and has been won by 2015 - Bromley Boy Singers, 2017 - Truro School Boys Barbershop and in 2019 - Duke of Cornwall Singers, St Stithians Boys from South Africa.
The family of Mr Langdon have compiled a wonderful and insightful account of his life and when commenting on music said “Songs - from a Cornish male voice choir as well as many others following his love and support for the International Choir Festival which takes place here every other year.”
Bruce Taylor, Chair of the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival commented “ John was an avid supporter of Male Voice Choirs and in particular the biennial international festival. At the 2019 festival he presented the John Langdon Trophy to the winning boys choir and obviously took great pride in being able to do so. He will be sorely missed”.
The CIMCF Board, Executive Committee and all of its supporters give our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends at this very sad time.
Mr John Langdon holding the Trophy for Youth Choirs he so kindly donated
For all the latest news and updates regarding the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival please click here.
Peter Davies
Vice President Appointment
CIMCF is delighted to announce that Peter Davies has accepted an invitation to become Vice President for one of the most unique festivals of its kind.
Introduction - Gareth Churcher, CIMCF Festival Artistic Director
As we approach the 10th biennial Cornwall International Male Choral Festival I am delighted to announce that joining our esteemed Board and joining the ranks of our other highly respected Vice Presidents is previous Festival Director, Peter Davies.
Peter brings a wealth of expertise, at strategic level, due to his knowledge of CIMCF, wider understanding of Choral music and I am extremely excited and honoured to be working with him as we fast approach the 2021 CIMCF.
About Peter Davies
Peter Davies is a director, composer, organist, writer and teacher and has directed a wide variety of choirs for over 30 years. He has directed Huntingdon Male Voice Choir for over 20 years and was for 25 years Organist and Choirmaster of a parish in Huntingdonshire developing and maintaining a large choir.
Peter has been mentored by many of the world’s leading international choral directors, having been an active member of the Association of British Choral Directors for 25 years. Peter is also a member of the British Voice Association. He has written many original pieces and arrangements for choirs (published by Banks Music Publications and Alan Simmons Music), a learned chapter on male singing in the UK (pub. Springer – Perspectives on Males and Singing) and several articles on singing and the benefits to health.
Peter retired as Festival Director of the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival in 2015, having directed the previous four festivals bringing together and working with choirs from across the world. He founded and directed 45 strong community choir Sawtry Chorale for 18 years and has also directed other SATB and youth choirs. He is currently also Director of Music at St Guthlac’s Church, Market Deeping.
Peter has wide experience of adjudicating choral competitions internationally (as well as successfully preparing choirs for competitions) and has frequently been asked to advise on many of the intricacies involved when changes to members of a choir’s musical team prove necessary.
Peter on his appointment
When asked about his appointment as Vice President of the Festival, Peter stated that he is honoured, humbled, proud and delighted.
‘The Festival was an absolutely huge part of my life for almost ten years. It gave me opportunities I’d never imagined possible. It enabled me to commission new and exciting music for both traditional male and, newer, Cambiata repertoire. And, I was able, through the hard work of a dedicated team and many other volunteers to follow on and develop Roy Wales’ vision for the Festival, ensuring that it became the largest of its kind in the world. Cornwall, the Festival and all the people involved have a very special place in my heart. I’m very proud to not only continue as a Patron but to accept the honour of being appointed a Vice President. I simply wish it wasn’t all over 300 miles from where I live!’
A word from the Festival Chairman - Bruce Taylor
"As a previous Festival Director, Pete Davies gave us total commitment for nearly ten years and the Board of Directors wanted this to be recognised and so we were absolutely delighted when Pete accepted our invitation to become a Vice President. He now joins an illustrious list of Vice Presidents and we know that his experience and enthusiasm will once again be a fantastic asset to the Festival".
For more details about the Festival and if you would like information on how to take part or support us in any way, please visit our website https://www.cimcf.uk/
Dozens of singers from all over Cornwall converged on Truro’s High Cross this sunny Easter weekend for a spontaneous “flash mob” rendition of a new anthem for the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival.
Music for Song for the World was composed by the Festival’s Artistic Director, the renowned musical supremo Gareth Churcher, with lyrics provided by Bob Willmott, to celebrate the 2019 gathering of international choirs who will arrive next week from May 2nd to May 6th for the biggest event of its kind in the world.
Shoppers in Truro were surprised and delighted as Cornwall’s Brass Ensemble struck up on the cathedral steps, summoning singers for a rousing burst which began with Trelawny and finished with the world premiere of the new anthem.
A great video of the event is here https://youtu.be/8Oi49DEZ5dw
“Singing and music and celebrating Cornwall’s internationally-reaching male choral tradition is what we’re all about,” says Gareth. “It seems only right after sixteen years of this fantastic festival that we should have our own anthem – and our singing flash mob event was a really delightful way of launching it on the world.”
This year a new special award will be up for grabs in the International Youth Concert and Competition. The Kelwood Cup for the most entertaining youth performance will be adjudicated by Cornwall's prolific composer and conductor, Russell Pascoe, and this has all been made possible due to the kind donation of the trophy by Harry and Margaret Woodhouse.
The Kelwood Cup is named so due to Margaret's maiden name being Kelynack and as previously mentioned Harry's surname is Woodhouse, join the 2 together = Kelwood!
Gareth Churcher, Festival Artistic Director, said "It is great to have this additional award on offer this year to the boys choirs. The opportunity to acknowledge a really entertaining performance adds another level of enjoyment for all involved in this very special event and my sincerest thanks go to Harry and Margaret for their kind donation".
The Youth International Gala Concert and Competition is being held as part of the 2019 CIMCF and takes place at Truro Cathedral on Sunday the 5th of May from 12:30pm. Please come along and support this and as many of the other events that are happening across Cornwall from the 2nd to the 6th of May.
A concert of three outstanding choirs in Falmouth on February 23rd will give a taste of the musical treats to come when the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival bursts across the Cornish scene from the 2nd to 6th of May.
The Celtic Ensemble, Cornwall Boys and Huntington Male Voice Choir will be singing at Falmouth’s All Saints Church, which will also be one of the 40 Cornish venues hosting more than 50 concerts and events by 60 choirs of all ages and nationalities in the largest Festival of its kind in the world.
The Duke of Cornwall Singers from St Stithians College, South Africa
All Saints Church, Falmouth - 7.30pm, 23 February &
Cornwall International Male Choral Festival – venues across Cornwall – 2nd to 6th May
A concert of three outstanding choirs in Falmouth on 23rd February will give a taste of the musical treats to come when the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival bursts across the Cornish scene from the 2nd to 6th of May.
The Celtic Ensemble, Cornwall Boys and Huntington Male Voice Choir will be singing at Falmouth’s All Saints Church, which will also be one of the 40 Cornish venues hosting more than 50 concerts and events by 60 choirs of all ages and nationalities in the largest Festival of its kind in the world.
Among the international singers travelling to Cornwall for the Festival in May will be boys from a South African Methodist college who will also be making a voyage of discovery about the heritage of their school: St Stithians College near Johannesburg was named after the 1859 birthplace of one of its benefactors - Albert Charles Collins originally of Stithians, Cornwall.
During the Festival they will be singing alongside their namesake St Stythians Male Voice Choir, one of 28 Cornish choirs taking part in the event.
“So many international choirs have strong links with Cornwall,” says the Festival’s Artistic Director Gareth Churcher. “Just as the 19th century Cornish miners and their families took their skills and technologies across the globe, so they also took their vibrant music and culture.
“Alongside the sheer joy of sharing the wonderful male voice tradition with thousands of people during the Festival, our visitors are often overwhelmed to see the Cornish Mining World Heritage Sites as the engine houses here are exactly the same as the ones built by Cornish miners all over the world.”
As well as South Africa, international choirs will be travelling from Australia and Canada, Russia, Lithuania and Croatia, Finland and the Netherlands, while another 22 choirs will be descending on Cornwall from England, Scotland and Wales.
This is the ninth biennial Festival and the event has rapidly grown in stature and reputation on a world stage. The 2017 Festival was a huge cultural and economic success for Cornwall with more than two thousands singers performing for more than forty five thousand people in venues from the Minack Theatre to St Michael’s Mount and from Mevagissey to Bude.
British composer, conductor and singer Bob Chilcott – himself described as a contemporary hero of British Choral Music – says the Cornish event, “has become a vital part of the choral festival landscape here in this country. It is an important showcase for choirs from all over the world and gives strong voice to this genre of singing. I am very happy and honoured to be able to show support for the great work of this festival."
The big change this year is that owing to major building works at the Hall for Cornwall, Truro Cathedral will be hosting all the international concerts and competitions which have previously been shared with HfC.
Full details of the 2019 Cornwall International Male Choral Festival including films and photos from previous events can be found on the Festival website www.cimcf.uk. Festival concert tickets will be going on sale on 1st March 2019 via the CIMCF website and also Cornwall Riviera Box Office – www.crbo.co.uk - which also has information about its local box offices within various Tourist Offices around Cornwall.
Tickets for the All Saints Church concert at 7.30pm on 23rd February cost £8 (or free for under 16 year olds) and can be bought on the door.
ENDS
Notes to Editors…
Photographs – all free to use – a picture credit for Phil Monckton much appreciated.
The 2019 Festival will run from May 2nd to 6th – all details including festival films, background and photos from previous festivals can be found at www.cimcf.uk
The Festival was inaugurated in 2003 and is held every two years.
The Festival is a non-profit making company, limited by guarantee and is a registered charity.
It is supported by its patrons, sponsored by a wide range of local businesses and helped by more than 400 volunteers - to each of whom the Board is sincerely grateful.
Contacts:-
Gareth Churcher - director@cimcf.uk / 07584 296961.
Louise Midgley Communications – louise@midgleycomms.co.uk / 01326319884 / 07831 696093 /
At a presentation ceremony on 20 October the 2018 winners of the Composers Competition were announced.
World class composers descended on Cornwall from Seattle, Shanghai and Surrey to claim their prizes in the hotly contested Composers’ Competition - a jewel in the crown of Cornwall’s biennial International Male Choral Festival.
Kari Cruver Medina from the USA, Norwegian Jens Peter Jongepier who lives and works in China and Ian Assersohn from Epsom in Surrey arrived at Truro College where the awards’ ceremony and premiere performances of their compositions were live-streamed to world-wide audiences.
All three composers were overwhelmed by the rendition of their music by the Truro School Barbershop Boys and choral scholars from Truro Cathedral, conducted by CIMCF Artistic Director Gareth Churcher.
The winning pieces will also be performed at next year’s Festival – the largest event of its kind in the world - which runs from the 2nd to 6th of May 2019. More than 60 choirs from across the globe will gather for more than 50 concerts and events in 40 venues right across Cornwall.
“It’s the first time in the Festival’s fifteen year history that we have opened our prestigious Competition up to composers beyond the UK and the response has been absolutely astonishing,” says Gareth. “We had more entries than ever with 49 composers from as far away as Russia and New Zealand, as well as 28 from the UK. It just shows how this fabulous event has grown in stature and reputation on a world stage.”
The quality and quantity of the entries created tough decisions for competition adjudicator Alan Bullard – but finally Kari Medina’s complex and powerful setting of the Robert Burns poem Winter Has Come won her the top prize of £1000 along with the Harold and Thelma Miller Trophy.
Alan says Kari’s winning composition, “communicates well the stormy winter and the rising of the spring with punchy rhythms and metre changes…This piece brings something different and liberating to the male voice choir world and a confident performance will be exciting for both performers and audiences alike."
Kari is a Seattle-based composer and pianist whose work spans a broad range of stylistic traditions and whose music has been featured across the United States and abroad, with choral and orchestral works premiered recently in both Europe and Asia.
On winning the international Competition she says, “This has been such an opportunity for me – to come to this beautiful county of Cornwall with its incredible Male Voice Choral tradition and to hear the boys singing my work is amazing.
“I did not throw friendly parts to them – some of those notes were stratospheric and they just went for it. The rhythm is really challenging and they did a fantastic job.”
Ian Assersohn, a composer, arranger and choral director who won the Competition in 2014, came away with top prize of £1000 in the Cambiata category with his composition for young male voices, Slow Down. He also took third prize in the main competition with When I Set Out For Lyonesse, pipped for second place by composer, musician and music teacher Jens Jongpier’s composition The Blue of Distance.
With the 2019 Festival’s emphasis on the young singers who will take the male choral tradition into the future, Ian says it was a challenge and a privilege to compose a winning piece of music specifically for voices which are changing: “Writing a cambiata piece is not like writing for any other group,” he says. “I had to do a lot of scientific reading to understand what was required and how it would work and I was really pleased with the result.”
1st Adult Category - Kari Cruver Medina ‘Winter Has Come’
2nd Adult Category - Jens Peter Jongepier ‘The Blue of Distance’
3rd Adult Category - Ian Assersohn ‘When I Set Out For Lyonesse’
Commended - Richard A Williamson ‘Alleluia’
Commended - Jo Scullin ‘For The Fallen’
1st Cambiata Category - Ian Assersohn ‘Slow Down’
Commended - Sheena Phillips ‘A Song about Fish’
Commended - Edmund Jolliffe ‘Jabberwocky’
A joint concert is being held on 19 October 2018 at St Keverne Parish Hall. Led by Janette Eathorne and Gareth Churcher.
The Cornish-American Song Institute from Texas, friends of CIMCF, are performing A Song and Choral Festival at the Church of King Charles the Martyr in Falmouth. On 19th, 20th, and 21st June they're presenting different and varied choral programmes. If you are nearby or can get to Falmouth on any of these days you'll enjoy some sublime and inspirational music.
Gareth Churcher and the Directors of the Cornwall International Male Choir Festival would like to congratulate Rame Peninsula Male Voice Choir and its offshoot Halfway Harmony who have been awarded the QUEEN'S AWARD FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE.
Rame Peninsular MVC perfectly represents the spirit of the whole community of Cornish Male Voice Choirs in their charitable work, and we're proud to be associated with them.
“This is the UK's highest accolade for voluntary groups and we are the first men’s choir in Britain to receive this award.
We are humbled by the remarkable generosity of the people of SE Cornwall and beyond who have helped us raise more than £250,000 for charity since we were founded in 1976.”
George Leggo has been a member of Treverva Male choir for 50 years this year, and for 12 years was a member of Eight in a Bar. When very unwell recently he greatly benefitted from care received at Marie Therese House in Hayle. To express his gratitude a benefit concert has been arranged for Saturday 4th August at 7.30pm at Penryn Methodist Chapel, to include Treverva Male Choir, Eight in a Bar and Mabe Ladies. The compere will be George's son Colin who you may have seen or heard of as a stand-up comedian. Please try and support this great cause, and have a great night out at the same time.
2018 has seen the highest number of entries ever for this competition. With prize money totalling £2750 together with international prestige and publicity, it has attracted Composers from across the world. Entries have come from countries including China, Taiwan, Russia, Brazil, North America, Oceania, and throughout Europe and the British Isles. The final entry date was 31 March 2018 and entries are now being passed to the adjudicator Dr Alan Bullard.
Four internationally renowned and distinguished experts have now been appointed to adjudicate the 2019 Male Choir Festival and the 2018 Composers Competition. Dr Alan Bullard, composer, author and teacher, will adjudicate entries to the Composers Competition. For the International Male Choir Festival competition we are thrilled to announce adjudication by King's Singer Timothy Wayne-Wright, Director of the Canadian National Boys Choir Dr Jakub Martinec, and Truro Cathedral Director of Music Christopher Gray.