Samling Artists soprano Jessica Cale, tenor Nick Pritchard and pianist Alfred Fardell and a team of eight Samling Academy Singers held introductory Samling Futures workshops in seven state secondary schools across the region.
Through masterclasses, performance and group activities they introduced the techniques of classical singing to students at schools in Durham, Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside and Sunderland. Two of the Academy Singers who took part – Ava Newby and Olivia Rose – joined Samling Academy after we visited their school in Sunderland three years ago and it was a very special moment to take them back into their own school as ambassadors for the programme.
Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham and Ponteland High School have both joined our Samling Singing Schools programme this year. Each school received a course of workshops and tuition for choirs, soloists and staff led by Samling Artist Miranda Wright, with open workshops to show some of the work to family, teachers and friends.
We look forward to welcoming all the students who successfully auditioned for Samling Academy as a result of our visits.
Above: Samling Artists Jessica Cale, Nick Pritchard and Alfred Fardell, Samling Academy Singers Ava Newby and Olivia Rose and students at St Anthony’s School, Sunderland.
Below: Samling Artist Miranda Wright working with staff and students at Ponteland High School and Queen Elizabeth High School, Hexham
All photos (c) Mark Pinder
