The 2017 Belfast Cathedral Music Festival opens on Tuesday June 13, with a feast of talent both local and international coming to St Anne’s.

There will be performances from NI Opera, the Ulster Youth Jazz Orchestra, New Irish Arts and choirs including a high school choir from Cincinnati, USA, and the renowned Seeton Male Voice Choir from Yorkshire.

This major festival continues to grow since it was launched in 2014. It gets underway on Tuesday June 13 with a concert by singers from NI Opera’s Young Artists Programme. They will be performing solo arias, duets and trios.

On Wednesday June 14 the Elder High School Glee Club from Cincinnati, Ohio, will give a lunchtime concert. The Glee Club meets every day throughout the year, and has 100 members aged from 14-18.  As well as giving concerts close to home, this all male chorus has made numerous concert tours both in Europe and the United States.

On Wednesday evening, tenor Conor Breen, a member of the choir of the St Anne’s Cathedral will give a solo recital.

Friday June 16 sees The Ulster Youth Jazz Orchestra – no stranger to St Anne’s, this orchestra proves a huge hit every year on Belfast Culture Night. Its repertoire will span old time jazz standards to chart topping hits and is sure to be a night of shoe tapping greatness!

Formed in 1993, the orchestra’s many accolades include the Bass Arts Award 1998, BBC Radio 2 National Big Band Competition 2002, National Festival of Music for Youth Jazz Open Section 2004 and an award by the City of Derry Jazz Festival for contribution to the development of jazz in Ireland. The orchestra has recently returned from a very successful European Tour of Britany.

The highlight of the Festival comes on Saturday June 17 when the Cathedral welcomes the New Irish Arts Choir and Orchestra, well- known for its large events in the Waterfront Hall each Christmas and for regular appearances on BBC and RTÉ radio and television.

This will be a unique and intimate concert featuring a smaller group of players and singers performing with the audience seated around the performers – a truly immersive experience of eclectic choral and contemporary Christian music in beautiful surroundings.

The closing event of the Festival on Sunday June 18 will be a night to remember as two of the best choirs from each side of the Irish Sea come together. Steeton Male Voice Choir which marks its 110^th anniversary in 2018, is one of the oldest and most respected male voice choirs in Yorkshire. This thriving choir will perform alongside local group the Clare Chorale from Co Antrim.

This popular mixed voice choir has singers from all professions who base themselves in Ballyclare. Its conductor is local Mezzo-Soprano, Sheelagh Greer and accompanist is Darren Day, also a full-time musician. The choir was recently selected to take part in the BBC Songs of Praise.

Admission prices for concerts vary. Please visit http://www.belfastcathedral.org/calendar/ for details.