Looking Ahead After an Incredible ChoirBLAST 2026

A word from our CEO, Phoebe Gaydon

Hi ChoirBLASTERS!

Firstly, I wanted to take this moment to say a HUGE thank you! Thank you for singing, thank you for clapping, thank you for smiling, thank you for volunteering, thank you for supporting, and thank you for being you.

ChoirBLAST has always been more than a festival. For me and the team, it's about creating a world where everyone has the chance to experience the joy, connection and wellbeing that singing brings. Every summer our mission comes to life in the most colourful and uplifting way, and this year's festival was no exception.

As I reflect on ChoirBLAST 2026, one word keeps coming to mind: love.

Love really does make the world go round. A little bit of love, a little bit of kindness – it goes an awful long way, and there was an abundance of love. Love for singing, love for community, love for people, love for music and love for the environment.

Every year I wonder how we'll make it happen. Every year we get overwhelmed by the amount of effort and energy it takes to keep going. Every year this incredible community reminds me that when people come together with a shared purpose, amazing things really can happen. Every year I cry more than I think is humanly possible. This year was no exception. The gratitude, humility and passion I've seen throughout the festival weekend, and in the year leading up to it, moves me to tears more than you can imagine. I am so proud to be a small part of this.

This year we welcomed over 100 choirs across 14 stages, creating a festival filled with joy, friendship and unforgettable music. But beyond the performances, ChoirBLAST is about building communities, creating opportunities and showing just how powerful singing can be in bringing people together.

None of this would be possible without our extraordinary volunteers. From the event team and trustees who work throughout the year to the people welcoming visitors, moving equipment, collecting donations, stewarding stages and solving countless problems behind the scenes, you are the heart of ChoirBLAST. Thank you! It takes a village, it really does.

A huge thank you also goes to our choir leaders, performers and community partners. Every choir that travels to Godalming brings something unique, helping create the wonderfully diverse, supportive atmosphere that makes ChoirBLAST so special.

We're incredibly grateful to our sponsors, donors and grant funders, whose generosity allows us not only to deliver the festival but also to invest in our wider charitable work. I'd also like to thank Godalming Town Council, who said yes in the first place when I was just a small voice trying to be heard. I'd also like to thank Waverley Borough Council and our many local partners for continuing to believe in what we're building together. Their support helps us make the festival accessible, welcoming and free for everyone to enjoy.

One of my favourite moments each year is watching our own ChoirBLAST-funded community choirs take to the stage. These performances are a reminder that the festival is a celebration of our charity's work – not something separate from it. Through singing, people build confidence, improve wellbeing, make lasting friendships and discover that they belong. Music is for everyone. I know singing changes lives because I've experienced it over and over again.

As ChoirBLAST continues to grow, so do our ambitions. We want to create more community choirs, support more choir leaders, reach more people who could benefit from singing, develop new outreach projects and work with even more schools, community organisations and partners. Every step we take is driven by our belief that singing has the power to transform lives and strengthen communities.

To everyone who sang, volunteered, sponsored, donated, supported, visited or simply smiled along with us – thank you for believing in that vision and helping us bring it to life.

We're already looking ahead to ChoirBLAST 2027 with excitement and ambition. If you'd like to volunteer, sponsor, donate, partner with us or bring your choir to next year's festival, we'd love to hear from you. Together, we can continue to grow this wonderful community and ensure that the joy of singing reaches even more people in the years ahead.

Thank you, and as always, happy singing!

Phoebe xx