THE Ebor Singers will be "singing in the dark" tomorrow night in the Chapter House of York Minster.

Few Yorkshire classical choirs subvert expectations like this choir, whether by discovering early music works not performed before, performing in candlelight, juxtaposing jazz arrangements with 16th-century polyphony, singing without conductor, surrounding the audience, or being surrounded by the audience.

"One thing you can be sure of is you will listen to music in a different way," says director Paul Gameson. "Of course, we do also enjoy performing in what might be termed a more ‘traditional’ format, and clearly audiences enjoy watching the singers and conductor performing familiar repertoire. With the lights on!

"In this concert, however, the idea of using low and, at points, no lighting is unusual but provides a fantastic opportunity for the audience to focus on the sound and lose the trappings that ordinarily come with concerts of this type. And hopefully listeners deterred by the more formal concert format will come along to hear some great choral music in a more relaxed ambience."

Tomorrow's 7.30pm programme draws on music from the 16th century to the present day, composed for evening services and the liturgy of Holy Week, and other pieces that focus on the symbolic and actual transition from light to darkness. The choir will be performing movements from Rachmaninov’s Vespers and Macmillan’s emotive Miserere alongside sacred pieces by Tallis, Byrd and Brahms, plus solo songs by Debussy, Barber and Gurney and Eric Whitacre’s sublime madrigal, Sleep.

"We’re particularly pleased to be singing a piece by one of our own singers, Where Is Thy God? by Ben Rowarth," says Paul. "We sang the first performance of this piece when it was the winning entry of the NCEM Young Composers Award in 2012 before Ben studied at the University of York, and we’re delighted that we have continued our association with him."

This concert begins a busy month for the choir that features a performance of Stainer’s The Crucifixion at York Minster on Wednesday at 7.30pm, the 2014 Young Composers Award at the National Centre of Early Music on May 8 and Songs Of Farewell: Music by Parry and Tippett at York Minster on May 17 at 7.30pm.

"Before all that, whatever your level of concert-going experience, tomorrow's concert promises to be a choral event unlike any other," says Paul.

Tickets for Into Darkness – Choral Masterpieces by Macmillan, Rachmaninov and Whitacre cost £12, concessions £10, students £3, on 01904 557208. Further details of the Ebor Singers’ other concerts can be found at eborsingers.org