About Cornwall Youth Choirs
About our Choirs
The phrase “Onen hag oll” lies at the heart of the Cornwall Youth Choir, emphasizing unity and collective purpose. The Cornwall Youth Choir family (CYC) comprises four graduated choirs that meet regularly across Cornwall. These choirs provide opportunities for children as young as four and young people up to the age of 25, each with varying levels of experience. Within CYC, there exists a framework for musical progression, fostered in a vocally nurturing environment of inclusion, mutual respect and celebrating a sense of place. CYC singers recognize their role in drawing attention to local issues affecting young people. They focus on protecting the local environment (for example, their costumes are made of recycled fabrics!) and promoting positive youth mental health through their choral community and network. Their repertoire is thoughtfully chosen to align with their values while maintaining musical motivation and interest across a wide range of new musical influences and genres.
An lavar “Onen hag oll” a wrowedh orth kolon Keur Yowynkneth Kernow, yn-dann bosa war unses ha porpos kuntellek. An teylu Keur Yowynkneth Kernow (KYK) a gomprehend peswar keur gradhyes a omvet yn rewlyek a-dreus dhe Gernow. An keuryow ma a brov chonsyow rag fleghes mar yowynk avel peswar bloodh ha yonkers bys dhe 25 bloodh, pub huni gans nivelyow dyffrans a brevyans. A-berth yn KYK, yma framweyth rag avonsyans ilowek, synsys yn kerghynnedh magerethek war anow a dhalghuster, kesrevrons ha solempnya omglewans a le. Kanoryon KYK a aswon aga rann yn displetya materyow leel ow menni tus yowynk. I a fogel war witha an kerghynnedh leel (rag ensampel, aga dillas yw gwrys a wiasow eylgylghys!) hag avonsya yeghes brysel yowynkneth posedhek der aga hemeneth ha rosweyth keurel. Aga huntel a ganow yw dewisys yn tybyansek dhe alina gans aga briow yn-dann witha movyans ilowek ha les a-dreus dhe efander ledan a awedhyansow ilowek nowydh ha gisyow.
Our History
Cornwall Youth Choirs is a family of choirs offering musical opportunities for children and young people from 4 years old to 25. Led by a fantastic team of musicians, the choirs meet regularly, drawing members from all over the county.
Cornwall Youth Choir started in 2016, a new choir for 14-18s joining the existing established Cornwall Boys and Cornwall Girls choirs, and managed by the music hub for Cornwall. Cornwall Youth Choir is the flagship choir attracting talented young singers from the length and breadth of Cornwall. The choir includes a recently organised Youth Forum, a small team of singers from CYC, who sit within the choir management team, making key decisions together with the choir staff regarding the choirs’ development, repertoire, social and fundraising activities.
The Choirs have recently expanded further under Angela’s direction and a fine team of choir staff, to include singers from age 4 through to age 25. Immediate plans include a Teachers’ Choir which will start in January 2024.
What we do
Our four choirs meet regularly throughout the year, giving the young people of Cornwall the chance to explore new repertoire, learn new skills, make new friends and celebrate our Cornish heritage through music.
The choirs perform regularly throughout the county at various events and venues including the Royal Cornwall Show, Truro Christmas Lights Switch on and most recently the Cornwall Air Ambulance Christmas Carol Concert alongside St Dennis Band and City of Truro Male Choir.
Our choirs also have several social events throughout the year. In the summer, Cornwall Children's Choir had a great day out in Falmouth starting with a rehearsal and a performance in front of the Maritime Museum before they headed down to Castle Beach for a BBQ and sing with local singer songwriter Will Keating.
Why we do it
We know that music, and particularly choral singing, is a very powerful tool in addressing the mounting mental health crisis in our young people. With many schools cutting provision to music education in favour of post-Covid catch up programmes in Maths & English, plus Cornwall's many small schools not having the budget for specialist music provision, we know that community youth choirs are a vital resource for many talented young people. Cornwall Youth Choirs provide a safe and supportive environment for all its members, with high quality musical and vocal tuition.