With members from North and East Yorkshire, the Merlin Consort is a nine-member vocal group with a repertoire ranging from Bach to Cole Porter and from Monteverdi to John Rutter.

Formed in 1991, this group of semi-professional singers has gained a considerable following and reputation at concerts given across North and East Yorkshire. Since 1994 the programme has included two highly successful tours of Germany, as well as visits to Harrogate Conference Centre, Sheffield, Wolverhampton, York and Teesside. More local concerts have included visits to Hornsea Music Society, Burton Agnes Hall, Sledmere House, Bridlington Choral Festival and the Spa Grand Hall in Scarborough. In addition the Consort has performed recitals at numerous local churches including two concerts with orchestral accompaniment and a Valentine's Day concert at Helmsley with Wind Ensemble.

 The Consort specialises in a capella music ranging from the 16th to the 20th centuries. As well as church music and madrigals the repertoire extends to spirituals, folksong arrangements and close harmony versions of jazz and modern classics. The title of the CD released by the Consort in 1999 - 'Beside Myself with Glee' - reflects the lighter side of the repertoire but it also includes more serious items by some of the great names of the English cathedral tradition. Our Christmas concerts are also very popular, with a mixture of traditional and modern carols and songs interspersed with seasonal readings, and our second CD is devoted solely to Christmas music.

For longer concerts individual members perform solos and duets in a variety of styles with piano and harpsichord accompaniments.