Gwenno Delivers Cornish Language Music Workshop at Mevagissey Primary School

Children get a surprise visit from Mercury Prize-nominated artist

Children at Mevagissey Primary School were treated to a music lesson with a difference yesterday (Wednesday 4th June), as acclaimed singer-songwriter Gwenno paid a special visit ahead of her performance at the upcoming Heligan Homecoming Festival.

Sparking a love for Cornish heritage

Gwenno, who sings in Cornish, Welsh and English, delivered a workshop for Year 5 pupils centred around Cornish language and identity. The session aimed to get children thinking about local heritage through music and storytelling.

“I think it’s really nourishing for children to learn about local heritage and history in a language that is from the place where they live,” said Gwenno. “Music is just a perfect way of communicating a lot of big ideas and it was great to see the children today engaging so enthusiastically.”

Lauren Rees, assistant headteacher at the school, described the experience as “magical”.

“They were enchanted by the songs and stories that Gwenno shared with them. It has ignited a real spark in them to want to explore more about the Cornish heritage and language and provided a great launch pad for us to facilitate that learning journey for the school,” she said.

Part of the Heligan Homecoming build-up

The workshop took place ahead of Gwenno’s appearance at the new Heligan Homecoming Festival, which will run between 13th and 22nd June at the Lost Gardens of Heligan. The festival focuses on the themes of home and belonging and features a stellar lineup of musicians, comedians and thinkers.

Festival director Matthew Shaw said: “It was fantastic to see Gwenno run a Cornish language music lesson for children at Heligan’s nearest primary school. The children really enjoyed the music and were fascinated to learn about the Cornish language and its history.”

Gwenno will be performing alongside other big names including fellow Mercury Prize-nominee Seth Lakeman, comedians Dawn French and Edward Rowe (also known locally as Kernow King), Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and author Merlin Sheldrake.

New music on the way

Gwenno is set to release her fourth studio album, Utopia, on 11th July 2025. The first two singles, Dancing on Volcanos and War, are available now. Her previous album, Tresor, sung entirely in Cornish, was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2022.