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 2 to May 6 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.

Falmouth Packet:

“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.”

The 2019 festival will see 60 choirs of all ages and nationalities descending on Cornwall to take part in 50 concerts and competitions in more than 40 venues right across the Duchy from the Minack Theatre to St Michael’s Mount and from Mevagissey to Bude.

International choirs are travelling from Australia, Canada, Croatia, Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Russia and South Africa: another 22 choirs from England, Scotland and Wales will also be joining the 28 home grown Cornish male voice choirs taking part in the biennial event.

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 are available via the CIMCF website and the 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 all International Concerts at Truro Cathedral cost £16, regional concerts around Cornwall are £9 and daytime singing sessions in various Cornish gardens and attractions are free, but some of the venues themselves will require an entry fee.

The international visiting choirs are the Atlantic Boychoir (Canada), the Australian Rugby Choir, The Barons from St Stithians Boys Preparatory (South Africa), Dagilelis (Lithuania), Dubna Boys (Russia), Duke of Cornwall Singers from St Stithians Boys College (South Africa), Klapa Kastav (Croatia), Manoeuvre Weert (Netherlands), Muntramusikanter MVC (Finland).