The historic city of Hull resounded with song last night as the second edition of the Hull International Choir Competition opened in magnificent style. With 24 choirs from 10 countries gathered for the first time for a warm and musical welcome, the event began with an international choir concert showcasing local pride and global friendship.

The evening started with a touching performance by the Hull Lord Mayor’s Youth Choir. Under the baton of conductor Mark Keith, the choir warmly welcomed all guests to their hometown with some traditional pieces from Great Britain, highly acclaimed by the international participants.

Next on stage came the Šiauliai City Culture Center Chamber Choir “Atžalynas” from Lithuania. Hailing from the country’s fourth-largest city, the choir introduced the audience to two beautiful pieces from their home. It was a nice glimpse into the cultural richness and musical finesse of Lithuania.

To conclude the evening, the specially formed Voices of Hull project choir brought the house together in song. This unique group gives the ‘Singing City’ of Hall a special face: It unites singers from adult choirs across the city, including members of the Hull Visual Voices and Sight Support Choir. Under the direction of Richard Sleight, they performed two pieces created with Hull in mind: The first was “Ballad of the Humber Bridge,” a moving musical tribute to the iconic structure that spans the River Humber. The song tells the story of those who built the bridge and those who cross it, portraying it as a powerful symbol of connection and shared identity.

The second piece was “Welcome,” based on a composition by J.N. Dykes and reimagined for this evening only. The new lyrics, written by Clare Drury, transformed the piece into a joyful multilingual greeting, weaving together phrases like “Croeso,” “Willkommen,” “Huānyíng,” and “Sveiki” into a vibrant choral embrace. With lines like “Sing as one, a world united, bound by song,” the piece captured the heart of the evening – a musical celebration of coming together across cultures and borders.

In his welcome speech, Artistic Director Mat Wright summed up the emotion and meaning behind the evening: “It’s fantastic to see the Choral World alive and choirs coming together this weekend. INTERKULTUR’s motto, ‘Singing together brings nations together,’ has never been more important. This event is a celebration of music, culture, and friendship – right here in Hull, a city with a rich heritage and a passion for song.”

As the final notes faded and applause filled the hall, one thing was clear: this was not just the opening of a competition, but the beginning of days full of harmony, discovery, and connection. A perfect welcome to Hull – and to one another.