A new oratorio has been commissioned for City of Culture 2013 to mark the association between St Columb's Cathedral, Derry's odest and most historic building, and the saint. Columba Canticles will be composed by Laurence Roman based on an award-winning poem by Sam Burnside. Columba Canticles captures the convergence of cultures and traditions, comprising the choirs of the universities of Ulster and Aberdeen directed by Shaun Ryan, and accompanied by London's South bank Sinfonia. Paul Mealor, Director of the Aberdeen Choir, will be present to see his composition "Ubi Caritas" performed - a work performed at the recent wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Other internationally-renowned composers will also contribute pieces for the evening. The performance will launch an annual choral music competition and celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Promise Chalice being sent from London. It will also mark the completion of the entire restoration of the ancient Cathedral and its ongoing contribution to the cultural life of the city. The total performance will last approximately one and half hours in the Cathedral on Sunday evening 9 June 2013 with a possible performance in Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast on Monday 10 June and a possible further performance in St Paul's Cathedral, London