ChoirBLAST Festival 2025

It was one of those rare summer days that felt like it had been scripted - clear skies, golden light, and a village bathed in gentle colour. Godalming, usually the epitome of leafy Surrey calm, was humming with life and laughter as 78 choirs brought their voices, their spirit, and their sparkle to the town. The river shimmered; banners danced in the breeze; every footpath felt like part of the festival. With 11 simultaneous stages tucked among churchyards and open meadows, it was impossible to walk more than a few steps without hearing harmony, joy, and the unmistakable sound of community coming alive.



It quite literally would not have been possible without the generosity and grit of so many. Our heartfelt thanks go to the incredible sponsors and supporters - some who offered financial backing, and others who lent equipment, skills, and sheer elbow grease to help bring the day together.


And then there were our volunteers - the beating heart of the day. From tireless fundraisers and calm-headed stage managers to our cheery welcome teams and ever-helpful information points, the festival ran on the energy, generosity, and good humour of people who gave their time freely and joyfully.


Our thanks also go to the crafters, bakers, artists, and stallholders, whose tables overflowed with handmade jewellery, delicious treats, and beautiful artisanal creations - turning the space into a true feast for the senses… and of course, to all the choirs who travelled, rehearsed, and poured their hearts into every note - thank you. You filled the air with the sheer joy of your sound. You reminded us why we do what we do: to celebrate community through the power of song.


A Tapestry of Choirs


The performers themselves were as wonderfully varied as the settings. We welcomed choirs of every style and size - gospel groups, professional quartets, school choirs, charity choirs, LGBTQ+ ensembles, and community groups spanning generations. Some performers had been singing for years; others were stepping out for the first time.



We saw nursery choirs singing with warmth and clarity, neurodiverse singers rocking the stage, and wheelchair-using performers who, for the first time, could take their place on the stage rather than in front of it - thanks to new accessible ramps and the thoughtful planning you can read more about in future articles.



What stood out most? The kindness. Choirs cheered each other on. Strangers became friends. One attendee called us “the friendliest festival in the UK” - and honestly, we’ll take it.

A Joyful Fundraising Triumph


We’re thrilled to share that, together, we raised over £15,000 for the ChoirBLAST Charity. This incredible total came from choir contributions, generous public donations, and our now-legendary raffle - made possible by the beautiful prizes donated by our wonderful local businesses (thank you!).


These funds go straight back into the work that defines us: supporting our community choirs, launching new singing projects in areas that need them most, and putting on inspiring events like the festival itself. Every note sung, every ticket bought, every raffle ticket drawn helps keep our mission alive - to bring people together through the power and wellbeing of choral singing.


If your choir would like to help raise funds for ChoirBLAST - through a concert, collection, or creative idea of your own - we’d love to hear from you. Every contribution helps us build more choirs, reach more communities, and keep the music flowing all year round. It just goes to show what happens when like-minded people gather with open hearts, generous spirits, and a shared love of singing.


So yes - Godalming didn’t know what had hit it. But now it does. And we rather think it’ll be humming along until next year...