The choir was formed in 1947 (though records show that a choir existed intermittently from 1913). Sydney Bowden was Musical Director for the first 36 years followed by David Eastburn. The Musical Director now is Ken Downing,(assisted by Andy Christophers). Ken has been a member of the choir from his youth (over 55 years ago) and the accompanist is Katy Matthews.
The Choir is a founder member of the Cornwall Federation of Male Voice Choirs and has participated in all four Federation massed Cornish Choir Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, London between 1984 and 2013. The Choir has also appeared in July 2016 at Plymouth Pavilions for Kernowyon a Gan. The Choir has participated in all ten biennial Cornwall International Male Choral Festivals 2003 – 2022.
The Choir sings throughout Cornwall and beyond. Major out-of-county trips in 2012 were to the Fairfield Halls, Croydon for a Diamond Jubilee concert and to Ely Cathedral for a massed choir concert to celebrate the 50th birthday of Huntingdon Male Voice Choir. In 2014 the choir ventured north to explore the delights of Saddleworth and enjoyed northern hospitality. In 2016 the “weekend trip” was to the Bristol/Bath area, as the guests of Bath Silver Ring Choir. The "trip" in 2017 was to Brighton Music Festival and Barnstaple proved a popular choice for our travels in 2018. In 2019 the choir ventured "abroad" to South Wales.
After a very successful year, winning competitions at Wall and Camborne, the Choir competed in the County Music Festival 2016 (Truro) and again won the Advanced Male Voice Choir class and also, the prestigious Edgar Kessell Cup. The choir also enjoyed success at the Brighton Music Festival (2017) and Camborne Music Festival (2018 and 2019).
The Choir is a founder member of the Cornwall Federation of Male Voice Choirs and has participated in all four Federation massed Cornish Choir Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, London between 1984 and 2013. The Choir has also appeared in July 2016 at Plymouth Pavilions for Kernowyon a Gan. The Choir has participated in all ten biennial Cornwall International Male Choral Festivals 2003 – 2022.
The Choir sings throughout Cornwall and beyond. Major out-of-county trips in 2012 were to the Fairfield Halls, Croydon for a Diamond Jubilee concert and to Ely Cathedral for a massed choir concert to celebrate the 50th birthday of Huntingdon Male Voice Choir. In 2014 the choir ventured north to explore the delights of Saddleworth and enjoyed northern hospitality. In 2016 the “weekend trip” was to the Bristol/Bath area, as the guests of Bath Silver Ring Choir. The "trip" in 2017 was to Brighton Music Festival and Barnstaple proved a popular choice for our travels in 2018. In 2019 the choir ventured "abroad" to South Wales.
After a very successful year, winning competitions at Wall and Camborne, the Choir competed in the County Music Festival 2016 (Truro) and again won the Advanced Male Voice Choir class and also, the prestigious Edgar Kessell Cup. The choir also enjoyed success at the Brighton Music Festival (2017) and Camborne Music Festival (2018 and 2019).
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Three words; tradition, success and charity, reflect the choir’s illustrious past and present. Only three Musical Directors in over 75 years; choir members with over 55 years’ service. Cornish Choir’s Federation membership and support from the beginning. Awards at numerous music festivals, invitations to sing with other choirs countrywide and audience feed-back. Over the years, the choir has raised many thousands of pounds for a wide range of good causes, these have included:
The Air Ambulance, Chestnut Appeal, Cornwall Hospice Care, Cornwall Music Service Trust, Footsteps for Freddie and Friends, Little Harbour, Marie Curie, MND (Cornwall) NHS and the Sunrise Appeal, to name just a few. The choir has performed locally at Camborne Music Festival, Carbis Bay Hotel, Cornwall Music Festival, Cornwall International Male Choral Festival, Crantock Village Hall, Falmouth Central Methodist Church, Gwennap Church, Helston Methodist Church and Helston Cattle Market, Hall for Cornwall, Heartlands, Princess Pavilion, Regal Theatre, St Stythians Church, Stithians Fayre Day, Stithians Show and West of England Steam Rally, Trebah Gardens, Trewithen Gardens, Truro Cathedral and Wall Music Festival, as well as much further afield.
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St. Stythians Male Voice Choir - A Brief History, written by Stan Stephens and produced by David Hutson was published in January 2008.
The book traces the history of the choir, insofar as we know it, from 1913. The names of almost 170 members of the Choir since 1947 are included in an appendix. It is now out of print but it remains a useful source of our history. Archive copies are held by David Hutson (01326) 314575 2016 Trophy collection
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