THE North Yorkshire Chorus and Wetherby Choral Society join forces to sing Verdi’s Requiem tomorrow in Ripon Cathedral.

“Neither choir has the numbers or financial resources to perform this work on its own,” said Greg Smith, principal conductor of the Chorus, who will conduct.

The tenor soloist is Martin Hindmarsh, who was Smith’s predecessor for 13 years until 2007. He is best remembered for a performance of Handel’s Messiah in Stockton in 2006 when he stood in for the booked tenor soloist at extremely short notice, handing over the conducting to the harpsichordist – John Dunford, musical director of Wetherby Choral Society.

Hindmarsh sings with the Choir of the Chapel Royal, the BBC Singers and Chorus of English National Opera and directs Maidstone Choral Union.

His wife is the mezzo-soprano Jennifer Westwood, who has also performed previously with the North Yorkshire Chorus. Since the couple left Yorkshire to pursue freelance careers she has been in demand for oratorio engagements and recitals and appears frequently at ENO and the Royal Opera, Covent Garden.

The soprano soloist is Samantha Hay who sang to acclaim in Wetherby Choral Society's performance of Messiah in December.

She is an experienced singer of opera, last season singing the parts of the Queen of the Night (The Magic Flute) and Frasquita (Carmen) for Welsh National Opera, and is currently Elvira (Don Giovanni) with English Touring Opera.

Singing the bass part is Ripon-born D’Arcy Bleiker, who has appeared many times with both choirs, including a previous performance of the Verdi Requiem with North Yorkshire Chorus and in Mendelssohn’s Elijah for its 40th anniversary in 2009.

He has had an extensive solo career in opera houses and concert halls throughout Europe and North America.

The concert starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £18 (nave, reserved) and £11 (aisles, unreserved) or £8 for children and full-time students. Call Ripon tourist information centre on 01609 775964 or 01937 583126 or book at northyorkshirechorus.org.uk.