Gala concert to preview international festival (From Falmouth Packet)

Gala concert to preview international festival

12:30pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News

More than 100 male voices and a single soprano will join forces to provide a taste of what is to come in this year's Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival.

As choirs around the world ready themselves to converge on Cornwall in May, a host of South West talent, ranging from barbershop to Bach, will be performing at a Gala Concert at Redruth Methodist Church on March 23.

Guest soloist will be Michele Sharkey, one of the Westcountry's most accomplished sopranos, accompanied by Anthony Seddon, who make up two thirds of Medical Maestro - an entertaining trio of GPs who have raised thousands of pounds for charities through their concerts.

The gala evening will also feature the City of Truro Male Choir, Eight in a Bar, Newquay Male Voice Choir and the Truro School Male Voice Choir.

The young men's choir from Truro School and the 20-strong singers of Eight in a Bar both have Gareth Churcher as musical director. Newquay Male Voice Choir has won plaudits for its outreach work in schools encouraging young people to enjoy singing and both their musical director, Judith Pinguey, and accompanist, Chris Bennett have been selected as part of the Cornwall Federation's Musical team to lead the massed choirs at the Royal Albert Hall in November this year.

Truro City will be led by their new musical director Hannah Stephenson who has been enhancing the choir's reputation for their modern, entertaining repertoire.

“Our gala promises to be a truly memorable evening and a great curtain-raiser for the international festival,” said festival chairman David Peters. “Many of Cornwall's finest singers performing in this beautiful building will be going on to sing in our line-up of world choirs a few weeks later.”

The gala concert starts at 7.30 pm with tickets priced at £7 available through all participating choirs and at the Hall for Cornwall. They can also be bought from Miller Countywide, Redruth, 01209 215594.

The sixth biennial Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival, the largest event of its kind in Europe with 60 choirs of all ages and nationalities performing 50 concerts and celebrations in 40 venues across the county, runs from May 2 to 6.

Full details of the festival can be found on www.cimvcf.org.uk. Concert tickets can be purchased through the festival website or directly via www.hallforcornwall.org.uk.