THIS year's spring concert by the St Cecilia Orchestra will take place in Ripon Cathedral conducted by Xenophon Kelsey and featuring soloist Hayley Parkes.

The evening will be a contrast to the recently acclaimed performance of all six Brandenburg Concertos. Instead of a chamber orchestra and multiple soloists suited to Bach’s demands, the St Cecilia will be at full strength.

The concert on April 16 will start with Beethoven’s Overture Leonora No 3, written in 1806 as one of the four overtures for the opera Fidelio.

It is the most popular and best known as a concert piece, complete with the sound of a distant trumpet. The audience will find out on the night if the trumpeter is really outside the cathedral or perched high above on the battlements.

Beethoven will again feature in one of his best loved and accessible works, the Piano Concerto No 4. Though premiered in a private performance in March 1807, the first public performance was not until December 1808 in Vienna. This was Beethoven’s last appearance as a soloist.

Hayley Parkes is in her fifth year of study at the Royal Northern College of Music and one of the country’s most promising young pianists.

She performs as a soloist, chamber musician, accompanist and singer. She has appeared as a soloist at the Royal Festival Hall, Bridgewater Hall, The Sage and BBC Proms.

Away from the concert hall she encouraging young players to perform on stage and takes part in workshops in children’s hospices. She is in great demand as an accompanist and has a growing interest in the psychological and philosophical aspects of music.

The evening will end with Brahms’ Symphony No 4. Written in the last decade of his life, his final symphony is considered to be his finest. Brahms conducted the premiere in 1885.

The concert starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from the Cathedral gift shop, at the door or telephone 01765 677413. Concessions are available.