It is now only two months to the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival. As always, Mousehole Male Voice Choir will be hosting one of the Regional Gala Concerts in Penzance. And are we all in for a treat this year!. In concert with us this year is the Atlantic Boychoir from Canada; the Australian Rugby Choir, Cornwall’s very own Eight In A Bar and the Cornwall Boys Choir and Friends. We are all aware of the pedigree of the Cornish choirs, but below is a little history of the choirs from overseas.

The Atlantic Boychoir is the first and only Provincial choir of boys and young men in Canada founded by Jennifer and Jakub Martinec in August 2016. The Singing Ambassadors of Newfoundland and Labrador are selected singers from across the Province that are inspired by the famous European model of SATB boy-choir singing known in Europe for Centuries. The ABC provides artis-tic training for over 120 boys and young men from the age of 4 to 22 in four choral centres across Newfoundland. The repertoire includes both traditional and modern works of both Canadian and International composers, famous classical compositions from all musical periods and large choral works, Newfoundland folk songs, contemporary music and choral arrangements of popular music.

The Australian Rugby Choir is a Choir of male voices, which aims to promote singing in the community both through participation at rugby matches and other community and charitable events. The Choir is a non-profit organisation with the love of rugby and singing for enjoyment binding its Members. The Australian Rugby Choir formed as a choir to provide half time entertainment for the ACT Brumbies games in the newly formed ‘Super 12’ Rugby Union competition. The choir were launched publicly at the Bruce Stadium on Tuesday 5 March, 1996 – the first home game of the ACT Brumbies, with around thirty members were present. During this first season, the game that really put the spotlight on the choir was a game against Wales on Sunday 2nd June 1996. The Choir sang both the Australian and the Welsh national anthems with great distinction. The large crowd gave a roar of approval for both anthems but the choir was particularly proud to have performed the Welsh anthem in four part harmony and in Welsh. Since then, the Choir has performed at every Brumbies home game and a number of “away” games. The Choir has also performed at Wallabies matches in Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane and at the Brumbie’s game against the British Lions in 2013. A regular commitment of the Choir is singing at the Australian War Memorial.