SINGING makes friends. It is a fact well recognised by the singers of Colne Valley Male Voice Choir who have just returned from a trip to Cornwall for what is commonly known as “the friendly festival.”

The Colne Valley Choir were not in Cornwall in competitive spirit but to top the bill at the gala concert at the county’s International Male Voice Choral Festival.

Fifty six choirs took part in the competition, that’s more than 3,000 voices. They sang in 39 concerts at 32 venues so the festival can truly be described as a musical extravaganza.

The Colne Valley men have competed and won at the festival and after their success two years ago, festival director Peter Davies was keen for them to be involved again – but as a show choir.

The choir were asked to return to Cornwall this year to sing in a gala concert at the Hall For Cornwall in Truro and to lead a workshop open to other choirs to get involved in.

They also sang at the Eden Project and at St Michael’s Church in Newquay where the concert starred the Sverdrovsk College Male Choir, a group of eight to 18 year olds from Ekateringburg, 1,000 miles east of Moscow.

Colne Valley’s music director Thom Meredith was invited to share his expertise by joining the festival’s panel of adjudicators.

Thom was delighted to oblige and was one of those judging the festival’s composition competition. He particularly liked a piece called Travel In Style which he said was ‘clever, witty and appealing.’

The choir’s music committee agreed, the choir sang it and its composer liked their version so much that she has given Thom another of her pieces to look at which may find its way into the Colne Valley repertoire.

Festivals are such friendly affairs.