Steered through its early years by conductor, Edward Davis, the chorus formed the final sector of the city's tripartite of major choirs, offering a flexible ensemble that could easily move from the Baroque era through to works composed for them.

With a membership of around 90 singers, the chorus now enjoys a well-established performing home in the Cathedral having appointed Alan Eost as its Music Director in 1986 following Davis's retirement.

They open the season with a performance of Michael Tippett's A Child of Our Time, the concert coinciding with the 70th anniversary of "Kristallnacht", the night when the Third Reich launched a violent attack on Germany's Jewish population in November 1938 and inspired Tippett to write his celebrated and moving work.

As a contrast, the programme also contains the peaceful and serene beauty of Faure's Requiem, featuring an outstanding quartet of young British soloists: Sally Harrison, Catherine King, James Edwards and Jonathan Gunthorpe.

Following on from the annual Carol Concert, the chorus's future plans include Rutter's Gloria (Jan 31); Mozart's Mass, with the English finalist in the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, Elizabeth Watts, as soloist (Apr 25), with Carl Orff's orgy of love, sex and sensuality in Carmina Burana bringing the year to a jubilant conclusion (Jul 4).

A Child of Our Time, Sheffield Cathedral, Nov 8, 7.30pm. 0114 255 3440.