Singing for the King and Queen

Our Choristers were invited to St Ives yesterday with Truro Cathedral Choir to sing for and meet King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Director of Music, James Anderson-Besant said “It was a great honour for the choir to meet King Charles and Queen Camilla in St Ives, and to sing for them. Of course, some of our choristers are no strangers to royal events, having sung at the coronation in May. The King and Queen were very interested in talking to choir members about their singing routines, and about our wonderful choral tradition in Truro.

“The King has a particular love for the music of C.H.H. Parry, so we were pleased to sing his anthem ‘My soul, there is a country’. We also sang Byrd’s ‘Prevent us, O Lord’, Russell Pascoe’s setting of the Lord’s Prayer in Cornish ‘Pader an arleth’ and an arrangement of the sea shanty ‘The Mermaid’. We are very privileged to have had this opportunity, and are proud that our Cornish cathedral musicians are held in such high regard.”

Leaving chorister, Kes said, “When I was new in the choir we sang to Prince Charles when he visited Truro. Today, was my very last day in the choir after six years of singing and I can’t think of a better way to finish than this. It was awesome!”

Another leaving chorister, Jack said, “I feel proud that my last duty with the choir was singing for the King.”

It was chorister Natalie’s birthday, she commented, “As a cathedral chorister I’ve been lucky to have so many memorable experiences, but singing in St Ives on my 16th birthday to King Charles and Queen Camilla will certainly be one of my highlights.”

John (Year 6): “That’s what’s cool about this job – just when you think it’s time for a holiday – suddenly the King turns up!”

Oriel, “After singing at the Coronation, I didn’t think I’d see the King close up again. So it was great to get the chance to sing for him again – and even better to meet him.”