An Altrincham ladies' choir and one of the UK's top male voice choirs are to share a stage next month after a friendly rivalry at an international music festival sparked an unlikely collaboration.
Di Voci will welcome The Wessex Male Voice Choir to St George's Church on Saturday 9th May for a joint Hope for Peace concert.
The two choirs first crossed paths as competitors at the 2024 Bangor International Music Festival in Northern Ireland, where Wessex narrowly claimed first place. Rather than letting the result end there, both choirs turned the competition into the foundation for a joint performance.
Di Voci event manager Cassie Dowling said: "Although Wessex just pipped us to the post in Bangor, we loved hearing them sing and were delighted when they invited us to perform together.
"We're really looking forward to welcoming them to Altrincham and hope audiences will enjoy an afternoon of uplifting and inspiring music."
The afternoon programme will include classical favourites and modern choral pieces, with the choirs performing separately and together. It will also mark the first major concert under Di Voci's new musical director, Ben Nicoll.
Founded in 2007, Di Voci performs regularly across Greater Manchester and Cheshire, with a repertoire spanning sacred music, folk, gospel, pop and contemporary choral works.
Wessex, meanwhile, are no strangers to major competition success, having won the male choir category at the prestigious Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
Hope for Peace takes place at 2.30pm on Saturday 9 May at St George's Church, Church Walk, Altrincham, WA14 4DB. Tickets are £12, with children of school age admitted for £5. Available in advance at ticketsource.co.uk or on the door.
