The Hampshire & Surrey Hills Men’s Choir is celebrating a remarkable double triumph — a prize-winning debut at one of the world’s leading male choral competitions, and a generous £500 donation to Step Beyond Alderwood, the Mayor of Rushmoor’s flagship charitable fund for young people.

The choir recently returned from the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival, a prestigious biennial event that draws male voice choirs from across the UK and around the world. In a wonderful achievement for a choir competing at the festival for the very first time, the choir claimed second place in their class — a result that has galvanised members and brought a tremendous sense of pride to the whole ensemble.

Buoyed by the success, at a recent rehearsal the choir decided to donate £500 to Step Beyond Alderwood, a cause that reflects the choir’s longstanding commitment to the local community.

Step Beyond Alderwood is an aspirational fund developed by the Mayor of Rushmoor, Councillor Calum Stewart, for the 2025–2026 mayoral year. It is designed to broaden the horizons of the 4–16 year old pupils of Alderwood School in Aldershot, removing the social, financial, and cultural barriers that too often limit opportunity. From STEM workshops and university visits to outdoor expeditions and creative masterclasses, every initiative is chosen to ignite curiosity, build confidence, and inspire a lifelong love of learning.

“Coming back from Cornwall with a second place in our very first competition was an incredibly proud moment for everyone in the choir. It felt only right to mark the occasion by giving something back to the local community that supports us. Step Beyond Alderwood is a wonderful initiative, and we hope our donation helps open doors for the children of Alderwood School.”

— Mark Kusionowicz, Chair, Hampshire & Surrey Hills Men’s Choir

Mayor Councillor Calum Stewart welcomed the donation warmly, noting that the generosity of local groups like the choir is vital in helping every young person at Alderwood take that next step — and step beyond into a world of new possibilities.

The award-winning choir is now preparing to impress a local audience at their summer concert at St.Thomas-on-The Bourne church in Farnham on 18th July. The concert will be supporting the Cheryl King Trust, a fantastic local charity that funds music lessons for children and young people from low-income families across Surrey. Tickets are available from https://www.trybooking.com/uk/GMCK