With early prospects including a trip to the Czech Republic, auditions are to be held at Penwethers School, Truro (formerly Richard Lander), on Saturday, October 6, for a new Cornwall Boys Choir.

The move is a spin-off from this year's outstandingly successful Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival, which included the creation of a boy's' choir and young men's choir.

The young Cornish singers met the national Czech Boys Choir from Prague - who have now issued a reciprocal invitation to participate in a week-long Prague choral festival next July.

As well as taking part in the Prague event and the 2009 Cornish festival, it is envisaged that the new choir will represent Cornwall at various events nationwide and become regularly involved in the Cornish male choir scene. They may also record CDs.

The auditions on October 6 will take place from 2 pm to 5 pm. The new choir will be supported by Cornwall Music Service, the music education and instrumental branch of Cornwall County Council, and the organisers of the Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival.

It will be conducted by Angela Renshaw, head of music at Truro School Prep and a choral festival board member. Angela rehearsed and conducted both the Cornwall Festival Boys' Choir and the Cornwall Festival Young Male Chorus at this year's festival. She is also choral animateur for Truro Cathedral's Outreach Project.

"The new choir will hopefully build up to 40 to 45 members, aged from seven to around 14," she says.

"Absolute beginners will be very welcome. The ability to read music is not necessary -enthusiasm to sing together with like-minded individuals is more important. They need not have any experience of singing in a choir or be having any form of vocal tuition.

"The repertoire will be very wide-ranging, with a great variety of songs and genres appealing to boys of this age group."

She adds: "Singing plays a lesser part in many of our schools than it used to, which is a pity as there is a great deal of talent among Cornish children. Singing in a choir creates a great sense of teamwork and pride, with the singing itself affording great joy of self-expression. It also instils great discipline which is very beneficial in other aspects of life."

All Cornish primary schools have been notified of the auditions day, which will include a workshop session and the chance for the boys to get to know each other.

Further information is available from Cornwall Music Service on 01872 323476 or Angela Renshaw at Truro Prep School on 01872 272616.

A total of 250 members of the Cornwall Festival Boys' Choir and the Cornwall Festival Young Male Chorus featuring in this year's festival took part in a concert at St Mary's Church in Truro with boys choirs from the Czech Republic, Estonia and Australia The festival programme included the "Sing Out Project," the UK's first symposium to address the reluctance of boys worldwide to sing in choirs.