Singers from Chester will celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary with a concert at a city church.

The choir of 18 to 25-year-olds, called Octavo, is made up of former choristers from Chester Cathedral or Abbey Gate College Chapel Choir, most of whom are now at university.

Director of Music is former Abbey Gate College student Tom Coxhead, who is studying music at Durham University.

He said: “We sing to an exceptionally high standard, considering that we can only rehearse outside of university term time.”

The concert, on Saturday, September 14 is at St Werburgh’s Church and includes music by composers with important anniversaries this year like Britten, Poulenc and Gorecki.

Tom added: “In addition to this we are performing a piece by Chester-based composer, Mike Williams, and giving the premiere of an Ave Maria by John Hosking, assistant organist at St Asaph Cathedral, which is due to be recorded in a CD of John’s pieces by Selwyn College Chapel Choir, Cambridge.”

Tickets for the concert are £7.50 (adults) and £5 (concessions) available on the door. Group savings available by email to concertmanager@chesteroctavo. co.uk.