An extraordinary Cornish coincidence involving the winning entry of a festival competition has come to light ahead of the return of the in-person event.
The first live International Male Choral Festival since the pandemic will be even more meaningful after it emerged that an extraordinary Cornish coincidence inspired an American composer to write her winning entry for this Festival’s Composers’ Competition.
Kari Cruver Medina from Seattle was in Cornwall celebrating a previous festival win when she and her sister spotted a picture of a steam locomotive on the wall of the Rising Sun pub in Truro.
On closer inspection they realised the train – called the City of Truro – was built by their very own ancestor, Chief Mechanical Engineer George Jackson Churchward, in 1903.
"Churchward’s locomotive," built for Great Western Railway (GWR) at the Swindon works, is best known and celebrated as the first British steam locomotive to have exceeded 100mph during a run pulling the Oceans Mail train from Plymouth to London Paddington on May 9 1904.
George Churchward’s younger brother was the sisters’ great grandfather James who emigrated to the United States in the late 19th Century to establish the American branch of the family.
The coincidence tickled Kari so much that she investigated the family connection when she got home via her Aunt Frances Shirk who reportedly knew the whole story – and ultimately inspired her to write her choral arrangement “Tale of a Train: The City of Truro” – which has gone on to be the £1,000 winner of the 2022 Cornwall International Male Choral Festival’s Composer’s Competition.
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Speaking from Seattle, Kari said: "On a poignant note, Aunt Frances, the amazing family genealogist from whom I received the binder of research notes on George Jackson Churchward and for whom I dedicated the music, died recently at age 103.
"I am so grateful I was able to show her the performance before she passed.
"It meant the world that her genealogy work could be continued, and fitting that at the end of her life she was able to see her efforts passed on in such a fresh and unexpected way.
"So there you have it - the tale of the “Tale of a Train: The City of Truro”, inspired by remarkable serendipity.
"I’m equally delighted that it will be sung during this wonderful Festival in the city that inspired both the train and the song!"
Kari’s composition, with its locomotive-inspired puffing and chuffing undertones, will be performed by the specially formed choir, The Truro Manse Group, during the 10th bienniel Cornwall International Male Choral Festival taking place from April 28 to May 2 2022.
A “warm up” precursor to the Festival will take place at Truro School on Saturday 12 February with workshops during the day and a 5pm concert focussing on Barber Shop and Acapella singing. For more information, email: director@cimcf.uk or visit: www.hallforcornwall.org.uk.
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