IN AUGUST last year, the musical director and founder of the Callington Singers, Graham Williams, announced that he would be retiring after the planned trip to Sicily in October. He conducted the choir for the final time in Palermo Cathedral, at the end of a remarkable tour.

Graham founded the Callington Singers in 1983, since which time the choir has earned an ever-growing reputation as one of the most accomplished community choirs in the South West.

The Callington Singers tour annually and have performed in some very prestigious venues, including:

Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, St George’s Windsor, Portsmouth and Truro cathedrals, Notre Dame, La Madeleine, St Mark’s Cathedral in Venice, Berlin Dom, San Pietro in Vincoli. Just after the Berlin Wall fell, the choir sang at Schwerin and were the first British choir after World War Two to do so.

The Callington Singers will be under the baton of Andrew Wilson.

Andrew is no stranger to the choir, as he has accompanied them and acted as guest conductor on a number of occasions in the past.

From his home in Tavistock, Andrew said: “I love the enthusiasm and richness of sound the Callington Singers always show in their concerts and enjoy the friendly, welcoming atmosphere of their rehearsals. I am delighted and honoured to be appointed Graham Williams’ successor. He will be a very tough act to follow, his inspirational leadership and expertise has built up an enviable reputation for the choir. I intend to continue his mission to bring the joy of choral singing to the choir’s members and their audiences. I look forward to working with them and their superb pianist Mark Smith.”

Callington Singers meets on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm in Callington Primary School.

All are welcome and there are no auditions. For further information, visit www.callingtonsingers.org