News From Bugle

The West of England Bandsmen’s Festival has announced the appointment of Geraint Richards as their new Chairman. He succeeds Leonard Adams, who has stood down after ten years in the post. In recognising the commitment and support Leonard gave to the Festival during his term the Festival has elected him a Life Vice President.  

Geraint has a unique connection to the Festival as his Great Grandfather, F J P Richards, was the prime mover in the founding of the Festival in 1912. He recalled, “Going to the Bank with 44 sovereigns in my pocket, each sovereign put up by committee and friends to ensure the Prize Money”. One of many long serving officials, he remained involved as Secretary and Promoter until his death in 1961. The first Festival was held in the grounds of Peniel on the outskirts of Bugle, a house which had been built by the Richards family and continued there until 1965. 

In his position of Head Forester for the Duchy of Cornwall Geraint is involved in projects nationwide for HRH The Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, who is Patron of The West of England Bandsmen’s Festival and whose Great Uncle presented the unique Royal Trophy to the Festival in 1913. 

Geraint’s five children are all musical, continuing the Family’s brass band tradition and appearing at the Festival in the Youth Section, his son Tremayne is at present a member of the St Austell Youth Band.   

He is looking forward to taking up his appointment as Chairman at this year’s Festival on Saturday June 17th, which will start at 10am with the traditional march through the village by the competing Bands to the Contest Field. As well as Bands from Cornwall and Devon and Brassband Excelsior Ferwert from the Netherlands, the Festival is also delighted to welcome visiting Bands from, Hampshire, Dorset and London. Situated since 1912 in the heart of the Cornish China Clay Country at Molinnis Park in Bugle, there is ample parking in view of the Bandstand, as well as comfortable seating, which sets the scene for the audience to enjoy the attractive selection of Test Pieces, chosen not only to test the Musicians, but to provide entertainment for those listening.

With Trade Stands and the famous Tea Tent, a full day of entertainment, socialising and enjoyment is guaranteed. The March to the Field at Molinnis Park commences at 10am, with the Contest commencing at 11am.  

Admission Prices. Adult £8, Children (6-16) £5, Children (under 6) Free
Family (2 adults and up to 3 children) £20
Car Parking (subject to availability) £3

Polgwynne Gardens host CMST fundraising event

On Saturday 20th May the beautiful surroundings of Polgwynne Gardens near Feock played host to an afternoon of 'Magical Music in May'. Musicians of all ages performed on four separate stages to appreciative audiences. The weather was kind with a delicious array of cakes and gardens looked spectacular. Below are a few photos and videos of the event which raised over £1200 for CMST's funds. Huge thanks to Amanda Piercy for inviting us to her magnificent home and gardens.

Finance Manager vacancy

As Cornwall Music Service Trust continues to expand we would like to appoint a suitably experienced Finance Manager to help run our service efficiently. Further details can be found below.

•  Job description  
• Application Form covering letter
• An application form 

Please share this post with your networks. 

Finance Manager

£12,800 to £14,933 per annum (depending on experience)

16 hours per week

To commence as soon as possible we are looking for a suitably experienced Finance Manager to join our team on a part time basis. Your main responsibilities in the role will be:

To manage the finance and accounting functions at Cornwall Music Service Trust including:

▪ All accounting and financial systems, procedures and software.

▪ Checking all payments including payroll.

▪ Preparation of Management Accounts, Annual Accounts and other financial reports.

▪ Preparation of information for funding applications to grant making bodies in collaboration with the Head of Service and Funding Consultant

▪ Budget preparation and management.

▪ Compliance with statutory requirements.

▪ Liaising with Cornwall Music Service Trust Auditors and Accountants.

Should you wish to be considered for the role please request and submit a completed application form to Gareth Churcher, Head of Service by email to gchurcher@cornwallmusicservicetrust.org or by post at:

Gareth Churcher

Cornwall Music Service Trust

Trennick Lane

Truro

TR1 1TH

Closing date: Friday, 26 May 2017 at 9.00am

All applications must be made using a CMST application form.

CMST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening including checks with past employers and DBS.

Registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (number 1159622)
and a company limited by guarantee (number 09268124) registered in England.

Registered office: Cornwall Music Service Trust, Truro School, Trennick Lane, Truro TR1 1TH

Kevos play Kestle Barton

Cornish Contemporary music ensemble Kevos’ next concert is on Sunday May 21st in the stunning surroundings of Kestle Barton gallery near Constantine.  Kevos are playing beautiful and dramatic music by four brilliant British composers including the world premiere of a Kevos commission by Jim Aitchison. The Kevos ensemble includes several CMST teachers amongst their players!

Ensembles perform together

At a recent concert we had 16 saxophones from Trigg, Bodmin and Budehaven joining together for a piece and Bude Junior Choir and Budehaven voices combined with Trigg for a performance of Frozen.

It was a lovely evening with a great atmosphere and excellent performances from all 4 groups.

Our next concert together is at Bodmin College on Wednesday 17th May at 7.30pm.

Cornwall Music Service Trust Pupil of the Month - April 2017

Congratulations go to Cerys Osborne who has been awarded the CMST Pupil of The Month award for April 2017.

Cerys started learning the French Horn just over a year ago and in the space of 12 months has passed both her Grade 1 and Grade 3 exams. On Wednesday 15th March she took part in her first Trigg Winds concert; sat on the end in full view of all the audience as the only French Horn in the Wind Orchestra.

Her teacher Anna Minear said “following the concert I had members of the audience coming up to me to say how well the young French Horn player performed.

I think for someone who has been learning just over 12 months from scratch, on an instrument that can be quite tricky, it is a fantastic achievement to perform with such confidence in an orchestra of mostly secondary school-aged players.”

Gareth Churcher, Head of Service for CMST, added “it is a real delight to read the various nominations each month and witness the phenomenal development of some of our CMST pupils. Furthermore, the inspirational work of our teachers is clearly evident and something that I am very proud of.”

Well done Cerys for this amazing achievement and congratulation to all those that have been nominated so far this year, this is a real testament from your CMST teachers of how well they believe you are progressing.

CMST Ensembles performed at Hall For Cornwall

Many CMST students were involved in Cornwall Music Education Hub's recent 'Hub Sounds' concert at Hall For Cornwall in Truro. The event on Monday 24th April 2017 involved many ensembles including Restormal Junior Strings, Caradon Strings, St. Columb Major First Access violins and Penzance Junior Wind Band.

The ensembles were supported by CMST staff including Karen Frost, Phil Montgomery Smith, Hywel Webley, Jill Steer, Claudia Lang-Colmer, Siggi Hawken, Drew Tayler-Moore, James Robinson and Sophie Andrews.

We are very grateful to Janet Elston for all her hard work as CMST Ensembles Manager for co-ordinating the CMST groups who took part. 

Cornwall Unites a World of Song

Cornwall Unites a World of Song

News Release: Immediate

Cornwall came alive with a world of music this Bank Holiday weekend as 2000 singers of all ages and nationalities brought their own songs and cultures to entertain around 45,000 people in the 2017 International Male Choral Festival.

St Petersburg Boys Choir launching the 2017 Festival at St Michael’s Mount. Photo - Phil Monckton.

The world’s largest male choral event welcomed 60 choirs for 50 concerts, competitions and celebrations in 40 venues across the county from Bude to Land’s End, Porthleven to Saltash and everywhere in between.  

Singers from 9 to 90 years old performed in churches and gardens, theatres, castles and major tourist attractions - with organisers estimating that the influx of choirs, their entourages and Festival visitors have brought more than £1million into the local economy.

Among the global visitors for this eighth biennial Festival were choirs from Australia and America, Russia and across Europe as well as Wales, Scotland, England and Cornwall itself.

“It’s been such a pleasure to bring singers from all over the globe together for such a good humoured and harmonious event,” says Festival Director Rob Elliott. “This Festival just goes from strength to strength and the more people who know about it the better it gets.

“We’ve sold more tickets than ever before and there has been something for everyone wherever in Cornwall they were. People who catch the choirs singing “out and about” are just bowled over by the quality and the fun of it.”

This year’s Festival emphasised the future for Male choral singing in the form of brilliant young choirs from Cornwall and around the world. The Festival was launched by St Petersburg Boys Choir singing their hearts out on and around St Michael’s Mount – to the delight of the many day trippers there.

Truro School Barbershop, conducted by Cornwall Music Service Trust's Head of Service - Gareth Churcher,  were voted Best International Youth Choir 2017 – photo Ian Griffiths

There were home grown winners for the popular International Youth Choir Competition at the Hall for Cornwall as the Truro School Barbershop boys narrowly pipped last year’s winners, the Bromley Boy Singers.

Overall Festival Winners 2017 – the South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus – photo Ian Griffiths

Among the keenly fought adult competitions it was the South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus who emerged victorious as the Festival’s Overall Winners – their rendition of Somewhere Over The Rainbow bringing tears to the eyes of many in the audience.

Best Overall Cornish Choir 2017 – Mousehole MVC (L). Best Cornish choir of 40 voices and under – Tintagel MVC – photo Ian Griffiths

Cornish winners came from bottom to top of the county with Mousehole Male Voice Choir taking the title for Overall Best Cornish Choir while Tintagel MVC were the Best Cornish Choir for 40 Voices and Under. Photos of the competing choirs are available from at www.event-photos.co.uk  - 07973 143406/ 01933 412251.

“It’s been a fantastic festival and we’ve all enjoyed it so much,” says Rob Elliott. “Now we have start again on organising the event for 2019!”

Cornwall International Male Choral Festival: April 27th – May 1st 2017

Cornwall Gets Set for a World of Song

– St Petersburg Boys Choir at Pendennis Castle, Falmouth, during the 2015 Festival

Cornwall International Male Choral Festival: April 27th – May 1st 2017

Two thousand singers of all ages and nationalities are preparing to descend on Cornwall for its world famous International Male Choral Festival - to entertain 45,000 people with joyful events and keenly contested competitions over the May Bank Holiday.

The world’s largest male choral event is welcoming 60 choirs for 50 concerts and celebrations in 40 venues across the county with St Petersburg’s Boys Choir loving the Festival so much they are extending their stay for an extra concert at the cliff-top Minack Theatre, West Cornwall, on Tuesday May 2nd.

With their gothic looks and angelic voices the boys will also pop up on St Michael’s Mount on Thursday 27th April and pit their choral wits against young choirs from Warwickshire, Peterborough, Bromley and Cornwall in the Youth Gala Concert and Competition at the Hall for Cornwall on Sunday April 30th, 7pm.

Among the global visitors for this eighth biennial Festival are choirs from Australia and America, Russia and across Europe as well as Wales, Scotland, England and, of course, Cornwall itself.

“In these “interesting” times it’s wonderful to be bringing singers and their entourages from all over the globe together for a long weekend of harmony,” says Festival Director Rob Elliott. “There’s no agenda apart from singing our hearts out and bringing joy to as many people as we can possibly reach.”

Tickets (from £7 - £20) and details of concerts, competitions and events can be found on the Hall for Cornwall website  along with a short film show-casing the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival.

Competitions, evening concerts and daytime events are being held in all parts of the county at churches, theatres, gardens, castles and tourist attractions, with the following Gala Concerts and Competitions taking place at Hall for Cornwall:-

Saturday 29th April: Male Choral Festival Competition, Hall for Cornwall, 9am (£7 for morning or afternoon, £11 all day)

Saturday 29th April: International Gala Concert, Hall for Cornwall, 8pm (£11 - £20) Vocal Six ( Sweden), Manifestum (Finland), Froncysyllte Male Vocie Choir, Cor Meibion De Cymru, G.V. Harmonie 1879 Bernbach e.V (Germany), St. Stythians 

Sunday 30th April: Youth International Gala Concert & Competition, Hall for Cornwall, 7pm (£7 - £13.50) Warwickshire County Choristers, Peterborough Boys Choir, Truro School Barbershop, St.Petersberg Boys Choir (Russia), Bromley Boys Singers, Warwickshire County Male Voices, Cornwall Boys Choir, Cornwall Cambiata 

Monday 1st May: Finale International Gala Concert, Hall for Cornwall, 7.30pm (£11 - £20) Trelawny Male Choir, Gentlemen Singers (Czech Republic), Wessex Male Choir,  Melbourne Welsh Male Voice Choir (Australia), St Petersberg Boys Choir (Russia) 

Further details are available on the Festival website at www.cimcf.uk

Other events are being held at the following venues: 

Thursday 27 April... 
Opening Gala Concert, Truro Catherdral, TR1 2AF, 7.30pm Celtic Male Ensemble, Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir (Wales), Wessex Male Choir (England),       G.V. Harmonie Bernbach (Germany), Vocal Six (Sweden) 

Chapel Street Methodist Church, Penzance, TR18 4BE Mousehole Male Voice Choir, Marazion Apollo Male Choir, Melbourne Welsh Male Choir (Australia), Grass Valley Male Choir (USA) 
Saltash Wesley Methodist Church,  PL12 6LA  Burraton Male Voice Choir, Rame Peninsular Male Voice Chpir, St. Petersburg Boys Choir (Russia) 

Friday 28 April... 
Falmouth Methodist Church, TR11 3PG Nankersy Male Choir, Eight inBar, Tenby Male Choir, Grass Valley Male Voice Choir (USA) 
Bodmin St Petorc's Church, PL31 2DT Pelynt Male Voice Choir, Imerys Mid Cornwall Male Voice Choir, Budleigh Salterton Male Voice Choir, Westerton Male Voice Choir, Manifestum (Finland) 
St Michael's Church, Newquay, TR7 1QZ Newquay Male Choir, Wessex Male Choir, Caernarfon Male Voice Choir, G.V. Harmonie 1879 Bernback e.V (Germany) 
St Neot Parish Church, PL14 6NG Lovenny Male Choir, Epsom Male Voice Choir, Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir, Vocal Six (Sweden) 

Saturday 29 April... 
St John's Methodist, St Austell, PL25 5AE Mevagissey Male Choir, South Wales Gay Mens Chorus, Melbourne Welsh Male Voice Choir (Australia), Gentlemen Singers (Czech Republic) 
Liskeard, The Public Hall, 3-5 West Street, PL14 6BW Liskerret Male Voice Choir, Tamar Valley Male Voice Choir, Westerton Male Voice Choir, Gentlemen Singers (Czech Republic). 
Launceston Central Methodist Church, PL15 8AZ Launceston Male Voice Choir, Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir, Rossendale Male Voice Choir, Peterborough Boys Choir 
St Pol-de-Leon Parish Church, Paul, Penzance, TR19 6UA St, Buryan Male Voice Choir, Phoenix Male Choir, Hampshire Police Male Voice Choir, St.Petersberg Boys Choir (Russia) 
Porthleven Methodist Church, TR13 9AQ Kerrier Male Voice Choir, Maelstrom, Weybridge Male Voice Choir, Bromley Boys Singers 

Sunday 30 April... 
All Saints Church Falmouth, TR11 2EN Treverva Male Voice Choir, Budliegh Salterton Male Voice Choir, Caernarfon Male Voice Choir, Gentlemen Singers (Czech Republic) 
Camborne Centenary Methodist, TR14 8DP Holman Climax Male Voice Choir , South Wales Gay Mens Chorus, Bristol Male Voice Choir, Gentlemen Singers (Czech Republic) 
Bude Central Methodist Church, EX23 8LA Tintagel Orpheus Male Voice Choir, Wadebridge Male Voice Hampshire Police Male Voice Choir, Melbourne Welsh Male Voice Choir (Australia) 
St Elwyn's Church, Hayle, TR27 4JT Praze Hayle Male Voice Choir, Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir, Wessex Male Choir, Roeros Sangforening (Norway) 
St Just Methodist Chapel, TR19 7UA Marazion Apollo Male Voice Choir, Cor Meibion De Cymru, Rossendale Male Voice Choir,  Vocal Six (Sweden) 
Helston Methodist Church, TR13 8EL St.Stythians Male Voice Choir,  Epsom Male Choir, Wyndham Singers, Grass Valley Male Voice Choir (USA) 
St Andrews Church, Redruth, TR15 2QB Four Lanes Male Choir, Phoenix Male Choir, Westerton Male Choir, G.V. Harmonie 1879 Bernbach e.V (Germany) 

There is daytime singing at the following venues:-

Thursday 27 April…

St Michael’s Mount 10.15am St Petersburg Boys Choir (Russia)

Friday 28 April…

Lunchtime concert – Truro Cathedral, 1pm Rossendale MVC, Weybridge MVC, Melbourne Welsh MC (Australia)

Saturday 29 April…

Lunchtime concert – Truro Cathedral, 1pm Cor Meibion De Cymru, Hampshire Police MVC, Grass Valley MVC (USA)

Daytime singing –

Land’s End 11.30 – 12.45

Trebah Gardens 12 noon – 2.45

…and throughout the day on Truro Piazza

Sunday 30 April…

Daytime singing –

Eden Project 10am – 3pm

Lost Gardens of Heligan 12 noon – 1.30pm

Land’s End 11.30am

Minack Theatre 11.30am – 1pm

National Maritime Museum Cornwall 12 noon – 1.15pm

Monday 1st May…

Daytime singing –

Eden Project 10am – 3.30pm

Pendennis Castle 12 noon – 1.30pm

Tate St Ives 11.30am – 12.45pm

Lunchtime concert –

Truro Cathedral 1pm Bromley Boys Singers, Bristol Male Voice Choir, Budleigh Salterton MVC

Tuesday 2nd May…

Minack Theatre 11.15am St Petersburg Boys Choir

The 2017 Cornwall International Male Choral Festival runs fromApril 27th to May 1st

·       All details of the 2017 Cornwall International Male Choral Festival, plus 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 all of whom the Board is sincerely grateful.

SOPRANO CORNET STAR RETURNS TO CORNWALL

Paul Richards, originally from St Austell, returns to the Cornwall Youth Brass Band as Guest Soloist at their four day Residential Course at Truro High School for Girls, Falmouth Road, Truro, over the Easter Weekend. Paul was a member of the Band in the early 1980’s, and followed his Father, Rodney, who was the first soprano player in the Cornwall Youth Brass Band when it was founded in 1955. Paul is now the Soprano Cornet player in The Flowers Band from Gloucester, rated in the top 5 Brass Bands in the World. Their Musical Director, Paul Holland, is Guest Conductor on the Course. Among the Solos featured by Paul will be Feed the Birds, from Mary Poppins, which was arranged specifically for him by Jonathan Bates. Playing this won Paul the Best Soprano Player Prize at the Brass In Concert Entertainment Contest last Autumn, and Best Soloist at the Butlins Mineworkers Contest in January.      

Aged between 10 and 21 all the musicians also play with a local brass band and devote many extra hours to their membership of the Cornwall Youth Brass Band, rehearsing monthly with their team of local Conductors and Tutors in preparation for the twice yearly residential Courses, held at Truro High School for Girls, Falmouth Road, Truro. 

The Band will also be repeating its successful Open Rehearsal and Audition afternoon on Saturday 15th April from 1-30 to 4-30pm at Truro High School for Girls. This gives young musicians interested in joining the Band an opportunity to observe the Band in action and talk to the local Team of Conductors and Tutors about the simple procedure required to join the Band. 

The Band will be giving their End of Course Gala Concert, featuring Paul Richards, at St Michael’s Church Newquay, at 7pm on Monday 17th April. Admission is just £7, with children under 14 free of charge.  

Full details of all the events can be found on the Band’s Web Site, www.cybb.co.uk  or contact Publicity Officer, Phillip Hunt, 01752 843919, brassmanpgh@uwclub.net

County Youth Orchestras in Concert

This week sees the culmination of many months of rehearsals when the Cornwall Youth Orchestra (Friday 7th April) and the Cornwall Youth Wind Orchestra (Saturday 8th April) take to the stage in Truro Cathedral.

The two ensembles are supported by the Cornwall Music Education Hub. Tickets are available from the Hall For Cornwall box office on (01872) 262466 or via their website for only £6 or £3 for under-18's. (Click poster below to go to the relevant page to book tickets).

Cornwall Youth Brass Band invite prospective players

INVITATION FROM THE CORNWALL YOUTH BRASS BAND to prospective members.

Come and see the Band in action at our Open Day, Audition Day & Rehearsal on Saturday 15th April 2017, between 1-30pm and 4pm. This takes place as part of our Easter Course at Truro High School for Girls, Falmouth Road, Truro TR1 2HU.

• See the band rehearse with Guest Conductor Paul Holland, Conductor of the Flowers Band, and Soloist, soprano Paul Richards.  
• Meet the Tutors and Trustees
• See what the school is like - and where you would eat and sleep on a course

We will also be holding Auditions for new members during the day, for those wishing to join for our next season in September.

For more information about the Band and joining details and Auditions see our Web Site, www.cybb.co.uk or contact Roy MacKenzie on 01726 823295 to let him know you are coming or would like to Audition. 

The Easter Course Gala Concert is at St Michael's Church Newquay on Monday April 17th at 7pm. Tickets are available at £7 each (children under 14 free) on the door from 6pm.