TOP notch male voice choirs are to visit Launceston and Bude as part of the fourth Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival.

The six-day biennial spectacular involves 3,200 singers from 54 choirs, including 11 from overseas.  A total of 39 events at 30 locations across Cornwall is expected to attract an aggregate audience of around 30,000.

The programme includes a concert at the Central Methodist Church, Launceston, on May 2, featuring Burraton and Croydon Male Voice Choirs, the Kapela Khloptchikau boys' choir from Belarus and Sweden's Vocal Six "a cappella" ensemble (singing without instrumental accompaniment) — considered to be as good as the King Singers.

Anyone willing to help in any way with providing the buffet at Launceston can contact Mr Terry Bale on 01288 353307.

On May 3, the spotlight switches to Bude and Padstow.  At Bude Central Methodist Church, the performing male voice choirs will be from Launceston, the Audley and Hart Choirs, together with the Boys' Choir of Dubna, Russia.

On the same day, the choirs of Imerys Mid-Cornwall, Tamar Valley, Nelson Arion and Isgol Gerdd Ceredigion will sing at St Petroc's Church, Padstow.