This month sees the first of the Cathedral Series of concerts, part of the wider events programme. 
The first of these, on Friday October 17 at 7.30pm, promises to be a special event, as we welcome back former cathedral chorister and choral scholar, Grace Oliver, along with her vocal quartet, for an evening of first-class music.
Grace joined the cathedral choir at the age of seven, singing with us until she went to study singing at Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London. Her voice will be familiar to many parishes from the recordings she made with Tim Harrison during the pandemic, which were widely used across the diocese.
The New Eden Consort is a London-based vocal quartet, formed of Grace, Niamh, Charlie and Dom – all graduates of Trinity Laban’s Vocal Studies department.
The ensemble was founded through their shared experience singing in the chapel choir of the Old Royal Naval College Chapel, Greenwich, and has since performed regularly at venues across London.
Now, they are excited to bring their music to audiences in the north, hoping to make these visits a regular part of their performing calendar.
Grace said: “My time at Middlesbrough Cathedral holds such happy memories of making music with wonderful people, and I am truly delighted to be returning to the place where it all began for me.
“From joining the very first intake of the junior choir through my years as head chorister and later as soprano scholar, it was singing under the direction of Tim Harrison that allowed me to pursue this career path. I remain deeply grateful for his unwavering encouragement and support.”
The programme includes a wide variety of music, both familiar and less so. As well as familiar pieces from the sacred repertoire, including some sung previously by Grace in the cathedral, such as If You Love Me by Thomas Tallis, the concert will include music composed for the consort by Tim Harrison, two of which will receive their first performances. 
The programme will also feature arrangements of jazz standards and pop songs, such as A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and Here Comes the Sun. 
In addition, and as a special treat for the Middlesbrough audience, the concert will feature a solo sung by Grace.
This is a concert not to be missed. Tickets are available from the Cathedral Box Office at ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/middlesbrough/st-marys-cathedral or by calling 01642 597750. 
Doors open at 6.30pm with a licensed bar and hot and cold drinks available before the concert and during the interval.

· The second concert of the Cathedral Series, on Saturday November 8, the eve of Remembrance Sunday, is Come and Sing Fauré’s Requiem. Singers are invited to come together to rehearse from 4.30pm to 6.30pm before performing with soloists in front of an audience that evening (dress code all black for singers). The conductor will be Richard Gooding, accompanied on the organ by Steven Maxson. Tickets are £10 for singers and £5 for others (accompanied children free). Doors open at 6:30pm and the concert starts at 7:30pm.