Local songwriters are set to collaborate with a classical string quartet for a first of its kind performance at a Newcastle-under-Lyme church.

Hive Classics, a new project delivered by Honey Box Live in partnership with PH Production Services, will see Julia Mosley and Hannah Sophie work with the City of Stoke-on-Trent Symphony Orchestra (CSSO) for a performance at St Giles Church on 21 November.

This is the first time that the singer-songwriters have worked in collaboration with a string quartet, or had their work recomposed.

It is also the first project of its kind delivered by the Honey Box team, who are excited to bring together artists from different parts of the music world.

Hannah Sophie said: "I was absolutely delighted to be asked to join this project. Genuinely a couple of months before I was asked I'd been having a conversation with another musician about how wonderful it would be to hear my music with an orchestra.

"I think that my style and writing really lends itself to an orchestral sound and to have the opportunity to perform live with a string quartet really is an absolute dream.

"I feel honoured that I'm being given this platform, especially because going solo has been a little more challenging than I initially thought it might be. I love collaborating with other musicians and singers and I can't wait to share the stage with the wonderful Julia Mosley."

After the performance, attendees will be invited to stay for a Q&A to ask the artists about their experience of putting the show together.

"I felt it would be a magical and special occasion that celebrates the merging of two musical worlds," Julia Mosley added.

Julia said she is interested in "stepping into the emotional world of orchestral sounds and storytelling."

She added: "It's a great opportunity and has the powerful essences of history and tradition that will really take us on a reverent journey."

The music of the two artists is being recomposed by Joe Hearson, CSSO Artistic Director and Principal Conductor.

Joe said: "Telling stories through music is at the heart of everything the orchestra does - whether that's through a traditional concert at the King's Hall or through an educational workshop in a local school - and here we have the chance to work with two artists who are themselves utterly captivating storytellers through their own words and music.

"I'm also particularly excited about the project because it presents a unique opportunity to widen the CSSO's reach across the local area, taking the emotional power of live, orchestral music to people who may be new to the genre."

Honey Box aims to showcase Staffordshire- and Cheshire-based artists through livestreamed performances as well as Honeycomb events, which are relaxed interviews with local artists.

The team also delivers workshops under the Hive banner - including sound engineering and songwriting - to further foster local talent.

The team hopes that by inviting audiences from across genres to experience a new type of music, they will encourage people to follow more local talent.

Peter Herbert, Director of PH Production Services and Co-founder/Producer of Honey Box said: "We're planning an evening that brings together different musical experiences and gives audiences an insight into how the project has developed.

"They'll hear Hannah and Julia perform their work, experience the quartet playing together and discover the new arrangements we've been creating for Hive Classics.

"There'll also be an opportunity to ask questions of the performers towards the end of the evening. Hopefully, this is just the beginning, and the project will continue to evolve."

Hive Classics will take place at St Giles Church in Newcastle-under-Lyme on Saturday 21 November from 7.30pm to 10pm.

Tickets cost £20.76 or £18.04 for concessions (including booking fees) and are available on the eventbrite page here.