Sing Together

Rejoice!with Inspiration ChoirA spectacular Christmas concert featuring many seasonal favourites, all given the unique Inspiration treatment – Hark The Herald Angels Sing,Little Drummer Boy, O Holy Night plus a few surprises along the way…

19 December 2010, The Sage GatesheadTicket office: 0191 443 4661www.thesagegateshead.org

www.inspirationuk.com

with Inspiration Choir

Saturday 17 July 2010Hall One at The Sage Gateshead

Musical Director: Gary GriffithsNorthern Sinfonia

Tickets on sale from September

WelcomeWelcome to the latest of our Sing Together:Inspiration Choir performances. Tonight’s concert

has been created with a family audience in mind

and owes much to ‘Glee’, ‘High School Musical’,

‘The Sound of Music’ and other family favourites.

I know that all of you, especially the Gleeks, will

find this one a particular treat!

As always, I hope that today’s concert will

encourage you to think about taking part yourself,

either as an individual or as a family. You are never too young to start singing

and making music as our Early Years and Family Learning team will be quick

to show you. We have music sessions for under 5s in our Children’s Room

most days during term time, family choir on a Saturday and, for aspiring young

musicians aged 5 – 7 years, we have the Foundation Studio strings programme.

Last, but not least, the same team create our fabulous Soundbites performances

that we will tell you more about on the next page.

Finally, I would like to take this opportuntiy to wish Inspiration bon voyage for

their adventure to Paris in August. I know that this will be a great success!

Katherine ZesersonDirector of Learning and Participation

Concerts for childrenand their familiesThe Sage Gateshead offers an inclusive welcome to audiences of all ages and

places great value on offering performances specially selected for families.

Soundbites concerts are produced by The Sage Gateshead in order to offer high

quality concert experiences for children aged 0 – 12 years and their families both

within The Sage Gateshead building and in schools and venues around the region.

All concerts are designed to introduce families to new and exciting musical

experiences, musical genres and learning. Audience participation is key and so

having fun, whatever your age, is a certainty! Soundbites concerts presented

so far have seen audiences and performers disco dancing together in the aisles

(‘Scorching Songs for Summer Days’), babies conducting the orchestra in the

Northern Sinfonia babies concert, a musical journey of colliding comets and

sensational storms with an environmental

message in ‘Beccy Owen’s Extreme Earth’

and a break dance battle in ‘La Chanson

du Retour’ a funky performance entirely in

French and performed in numerous schools

as part of a regional tour.

Coming soon from Soundbites – ‘Eleanor & Julia’s Big Yee Haw!’ Sunday

25 July, a star spangled, musical road trip for all the family. Part of the

SummerTyne Americana Festival supported by One North East.

High SchoolMusical Megamix

High School Musical becamea phenomenon for the teenagecrowd and screaming Zac Efronlovers in 2006. It spawned two

sequels, stage shows, tours,books, video games and

even an ice show!

Over The Rainbow ‘Somewhere Over The

Rainbow’ was initially deletedfrom the film because MGM

chief executive Louis B. Mayerthought the song “slowed downthe picture”! It has since been

ranked as the greatestmovie song of all time.

It’s time to letour hair downThis term has been such good fun. After the high emotion and epic sweep of

last term it has been exciting for us to let our hair down a bit. From The Easter

Hymn last term to High School Musical in this is quite a leap. Once again though,

the singers have risen to the challenge and finally cast off their inhibitions as

you will see. They still surprise me with their flexibility and willingness to sing

whatever I put before them.

Our community work continues to grow and this term we have performed at

The Sunderland Empire for the Variety Club and at the Royal Armouries in Leeds

for the Women of Achievement Awards. We have been filmed for television and

once again provided the pre-match entertainment for the Huddersfield Giants.

We have worked with school choirs and sung to raise funds for MacMillan Nurses

and Victim Support. We are also busy preparing for our first international event

when 400 of us travel to Paris to sing at Disneyland Paris, Église Saint-Eustache

and Notre Dame, where we will be singing our medley from Disney’s ‘Hunchback

of Notre Dame’.

I hope you enjoy this evening’s concert. Feel free to join in if you know the words.

Dancing is not required, but is allowed.

I’m glad you’re here with us and don’t stop believing!

Gary

Gary GriffithsInspiration Musical DirectorGary was born in 1966 and educated atWolverhampton Grammar School where he firststarted to sing in choirs and also started to playoboe and percussion. Eventually he becameprincipal oboist of Wolverhampton Youth Orchestraand principal percussionist of WolverhamptonConcert Band.

He went on from Wolverhampton to York Universityto study music, continuing to play oboe andpercussion and of course singing. He played or sang in most of the department’sensembles and also sang in the Yorkshire Bach Choir under the inspirationaldirectorship of Peter Seymour.

He graduated in 1988 and stayed in York to live, working as a Songman in thechoir of the beautiful Minster. With the Minster Choir he sang in many of theworld’s great cathedrals and churches in the USA and Europe and many of the major concert halls in the UK. The Choir has made numerous recordings and broadcasts.

Whilst at university he discovered his love of musical theatre. Eventually he joinedYork Light Opera Society, first as a playing chorus member, later becoming their Chorus Master. He also became Musical Director for Pickering Musical Societyand Sing Live. It was orchestrating ‘Annie’ for Pickering that led him to start hisown business, arranging and orchestrating for local groups.

On the non-musical side, Gary is an excellent cook and is also a member of the Rollercoaster Club of Great Britain.

Mark DeeksPianistMark has worked as Course Leader for Music at New College Durham since 2004, where hespecialises in performance, music theory andarranging. He holds the Diploma of the AssociatedBoard of the Royal Schools of Music in pianoteaching, but in 2009 he brought to an end 15 years of piano teaching in order to start a PhDwith the University of Leeds, looking at the historyof The Northern Mythologies in Rock and Metal.

Mark is Inspiration’s rehearsal pianist. He has contributed a number of choralarrangements for their concerts and has now worked with Gary for seven years.In his spare time (!), Mark has built up a wealth of experience as a performer,musical director, singer-songwriter and arranger. His debut solo album of folk-influenced, acoustic songs will be released this September. Please visitwww.markdeeksmusic.com for more details.

Cliff LeeSigned Song InterpreterCliff is an experienced BSL communicator whohas worked with The Sage Gateshead since 2004.Amongst other projects, Cliff has set up severalsigned song choirs within the North East includingTyneSign, CoSign and WearSign (now ThePortland Signers). He also runs courses forteachers and other trainers and facilitates Sign Song workshops across the community.

Cliff holds a BSL Level 3 certificate, and iscurrently studying for a teaching degree, which he will complete next summer. In his spare time (yes, he does have some) he is learning to play the piano andenjoys nothing more than looking after his twin grandsons.

Cliff has been working with Inspiration since they started in 2009, having provideda Signed Song interpretation for their first concert at The Sage Gateshead. He isloving working with the choir and is looking forward to introducing more peopleto the joy of song through the beauty of sign language.

Proud MaryOriginally recorded by

Creedence Clearwater Revival, this song is about a blue-collar

guy who roams the country looking for work, not lifting his head to look at anything else

until he takes a ride on aMississippi steamboat.

Northern Sinfonia, orchestra of The Sage Gateshead, holds an international

reputation for the range and depth of its repertoire which spans 300 years and

includes commissioned new work. Northern Sinfonia’s Music Director, Thomas

Zehetmair, says he approaches each work “as if the ink is still wet on the score”,

giving performances extraordinary freshness.

The orchestra performs in its own spectacular Norman Foster-designed home

for music, The Sage Gateshead, which celebrated its 5th Birthday in December

2009. Northern Sinfonia travels widely too with appearances at other leading

venues and festivals throughout the world including the Berlin Philharmonie,

the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the Musikverein in Vienna, the BBC Proms,

Edinburgh International Festival and the Aldeburgh Festival. Northern Sinfonia’s

50th Anniversary Season in 2008/09 saw tours to the Far East including a

residency at the Hong Kong Festival.

Northern Sinfonia is a fresh thinking, versatile orchestra with projects including

work with the Pet Shop Boys, and touring with striking harpist and singer,

Joanna Newsom.

Northern Sinfonia works with many broadcasters including the BBC and Channel 4,

and is proud to be Classic FM’s orchestra in the North East; working in partnership

with the UK’s biggest commercial radio station, it presents exclusive broadcasts

and live performances at The Sage Gateshead and for Classic FM Live at the

Royal Albert Hall.

Recordings include the critically acclaimed Brahms and Schumann CD (chosen

by BBC Music Magazine as Disc of the Month under the heading ‘Zehetmair’s

daring success’), two CDs of Mozart Piano Concertos with

Imogen Cooper (five stars in Classic FM magazine

and The Sunday Telegraph), and a Sibelius

and Stravinsky CD with Music Director,

Thomas Zehetmair.

”“The Sage [Gateshead]has quickly become the

most exciting music venuein Britain and Northern

Sinfonia has raised its gameto match its new home.

Richard Morrison,The Times

I WishWonder

Earth, Wind And Fire MedleyWhite, McKay, Willis and Lind

SmileChaplin, Turner and Parsons

Marie Swan

I Love ParisPorter

Somewhere Out ThereHorner, Mann and Weil

Anne-Marie Gardener

Candle On The WaterHirschhorn and Kasha

HallelujahCohen

The Winner Takes It AllUlvaeus and Andersson

Sara Morgan with Danielle Stokes,Kirsten Walton, Denise Saunders,Katherine Saunders, Lawrence Strakerand Paul Falkous

Symphonic HunchbackA medley from Disney’sHunchback of Notre DameMenken and Schwartz

Don’t Stop BelievingCain, Perry and Schon

Don’t stop believingPart one Part two

Don’t Stop BelievingOriginally released by theAmerican band Journey

in 1981, ‘Don’t Stop Believing’reached number nine in the

2009 UK Christmas chart afterbeing featured in the TV

programme ‘Glee’.

ShadowlandThis song comes from

the stage production ofDisney’s ‘The Lion King’ which

has been seen by over30 million people at over

18,000 performancesworldwide.

Over The RainbowA medley from The Wizard of OzArlen and Harburg

Mamma Mia MedleyUlvaeus and Andersson

The Sound Of MusicRogers and Hammerstein

Climb Every MountainRogers and Hammerstein

The ClimbAlexander and Mabe

That’s What Friends Are ForSherman and Sherman

Lawrence Straker, Patrick Love,Mike Humble and Peter Berrie

ShadowlandJohn and Rice

ReflectionWilder and Zippel

Laura Straker

Proud MaryFogerty

High School Musical MegamixNevil, Gerrard and Houston

Danielle Stokes, Kirsten Walton, Denise Saunders, Katherine Saunders,Lawrence Straker, Paul Falkousand Company

Mamma Mia MedleyAt the height of their

fame, ABBA were secondonly to Volvo as Sweden’s

biggest export earners.

Our singersLynn AdamsonJoy AlexanderRaymond AngleseaKi AngleseaLouise AntonsAngela ApplebyBarbara ArmstrongCatherine AtkinsonBarbara BainbridgeFreda BarberJulie BarnsleyOliver BarnsleyKim BarryAnne BartleAlwyn BathanMerle BattyLinda BellKaty BellLindsay BellwoodAnna BellwoodAnjanette BerriePeter BerrieKaren BlenkinsopMargaret BolamEmma BosomworthJill BradburyJoan BradfordDonald BradfordCollette BradyPeter BroughamWin BrownPatricia BryansElizabeth BuchanGloria CainLouise CaisleyCarol CapaldiElizabeth CarrMaureen CarraharSheila CarruthersSimon CoatsworthElaine ColquhounMaureen CordonSusan CraigsDorothy CrawMargaret CriddleLinda CruickshankSharon DalbyPatricia DavidsonMark DaviesTim DeveauxElizabeth DinningSusan Dinning

Roger DinningHilary DobsonSuzanne DobsonMargaret DoddsIrene DolanAudrey DonaldsonJeffrey DoughertyEileen DoughertySusan DoveAileen DrummondLyall DuffusSteven DuncanBecky DunnRachel EaglenEva EdenMandy ElkinAnn EllisMavis EmersonJohn EmmersonGlynis EvansJennifer FalconerJean FalkousPaul FalkousJoanne FawcettCarolyn FentonCelia FieldingJuliet FletcherMargaret ForrestHeather ForsterTracey FoskettTony FoxVivien FrazerAnne-Marie GardenerEvelyn GardnerChris GardnerJudith GibsonJoyce GibsonElaine GiffordMaureen GilroyAlison GilroySandie GinksBob GladwinSuzanne GoldieEmma GoldieRose GoldieBrenda GrahamDavid GrahamHeather GrahamJean GreenwoodDorothy GregoryClare HaganMargot Haigh

Vivienne HallCynthia HallPauline HankinsonJill HardmanChristine HartridgeLesley HehirGerald HendersonElizabeth HewettRachel HillCarol HindhaughJulie HobsonAlan HobsonJudith HodsonAllan HogarthPeter HollandJane HollinsHelen HolmesDawn HolmesPeter HopkinsJoy HoughtonNicola HowesJoanne HullNancy HullMichael HumbleJean HumphreyIrene HutchinsonHelen JeffersonAngela JesneyTrudy JohnsonNicola JohnsonRiem JohnsonFiona JonesAnn KaiserAlex KeanSheila KendallTony KennanAnne KentPatricia KiddSheila KimberSusan KnottKaren KnoxLiz KreibichStephen LangleyAlyson LawsGill LiskHayley LlandroDenise LodgePatrick LoveWendy LowdonMargaret LoweryPatricia LoweryBilly Lowther

Norma LukeAnne LyonDebbie MacQueenLeonard MartinBarbara MasonPeter MastersonAnne MaughanSue McCarthyJames McCoyGlynis McGlenDorothy McGuinessSusannah McKeagIrene McLaneCatherine McNaughtAnna MeikleSue MellonAndy MellonGillian MetcalfSheila MillenPatsy MillenElaine MillsSue MitchellAndria MoffattYago MorenoSue MorganJenny MorganSara MorganErica MorganRebecca MorrellGeorge MossopVivienne MuirJohn MuirNicola MulgrewJanice MylroiAnna NardiniAnne NoblePatricia O’ConnorLouise OkelloCate O’NeillJames OrangeJane OrmstonHeather PageMonica ParkerJill ParkinDerek ParkinPam PattersonRon PattersonAnn PaxtonHelen PearceValerie PickeringRichard PickersgillChristina Pinder

Judith PlattSheila PlattJeff PlattSheila PriceLynne PringleGareth PritchardAnni ProudHelen PryorDorothy RaeSandra ReayElizabeth RegnardJanet RichardsonFiona RichardsonGlenys RichardsonAlison RiggDawn RitchKathleen RobertsClaire RobertsonLynn RobinsonEnid RobsonBelinda RockBarbara Roper

Fiona RoutledgePat RoxboroughAlison RussellDenise SaundersKatherine SaundersVeronica SchubelerStan ScorerLorraine ScottMargaret ScullionVerity ShepleyPauline SibbaldHelen SidawayCharlie SlaterFiona SmartJudy SmithBeatrice SmithScott SmithCatherine SmithHelen SmithMaureen SmithMallory SmithLiz Soloman

Jane SpeakMargaret SpeddingAnn StephensonDanielle StokesHilary StoreySue StrakerLaura StrakerLawrence StrakerRichard StrakerHelen SwalesMarie SwanLesley TanneyLorna TaylorHilary TemperleyStephen TemperleyPauline ThirlawayJoanna ThompsonJudith ThompsonNicola ThompsonBryan ThompsonNorman ThompsonDaphne Thornton

Pamela TomlinsonBrenda TonksRebecca TrevarrowJill TurnbullMaddy UptonJennifer WadeHeather WalkerSuzanne WalkerBronwyn WaltonKirsten WaltonElliott WardSarah WatlingMarie WaughKate WelfordMary WellingtonNorma WhiteMerle WhiteAnnie WilksSarah WinthropAnne WoodRosemary WoodElaine Woolcock

I WishA disco hit for Stevie

Wonder in 1976, ‘I Wish’describes his own childhood

misdemeanours growingup in Illinois before he was

signed to Motown asa teenager.

An interview with…Hopefully, most of you will recognise Cliff Lee by now. He isInspiration’s fabulous signed song interpreter. For the first time,Cliff will be interpreting both performances of ‘Don’t StopBelieving’, so that anyone who hasn’t had the joy of seeing hiscreative interpretation of the songs will have the opportunity tosee how much they enhance the performance for both deaf andhearing audiences alike.

Why did you decide to learn BSL (British Sign Language)?

When my wife died, I was very involved with looking after my kids and I didn’t

leave the house for nearly two years. After a while, my father gave me the

prospectus for a college so that I could improve my maths and English and also

to give me a reason to get out. While I was there, I met a deaf girl who was in

my English class. We spent time communicating with written notes, but this felt

quite primitive and ignorant not being able to communicate in any other way.

So, after I finished the studies I was doing, I went to my BSL Level 1 class with

her and then Levels 2 and 3. I’ve been interpreting for 9 years now!

Is this the first time you have provided signed song interpretation for a choir?

No. I have interpreted for the Silver Singers and a deaf choir in Manchester

as well as doing signed song with school groups. However, the sheer size

of Inspiration and the involvement I have been able to have with the choir

members is what makes working with them special and very exciting.

How is signed song different to BSL?

The difference between BSL and signed song interpretation is very simple.

Signed song has a structured BSL basis but each interpreter will create their

own artistic version of that piece of music or song by using facial expression

and body language to emphasize the emotions of that piece. In the same way

everybody feels something different when they hear a song, it may bring tears

to some people and yet others may feel something totally different. Whereas

within a simple BSL translation the words are simply structured within the

correct syntax or word order.

What has been your favourite Inspiration song and why?

Do I only get one? That is so cruel! I do like ‘Hallelujah’ from ‘Shrek’ (not The

Halleujah Chorus) but the one that was so emotional for me was ‘Walking in

Memphis’. It was so moving and beautiful. I cried when I heard it. I think it is

the way it starts off with the solo at the beginning and then everyone joins in,

ending with the amazing gospelly bit. Such teamwork!

What music do you listen to at home?

Varied! It ranges from classical music to whatever the latest bands that the

kids are into. The deaf kids are really hot for The Black Eyed Peas song ‘I’ve Got

A Feeling’ at the moment. They play it so loud and get really absorbed in the

signing and music. At home alone, I listen to classical music.

Cliff Lee delivers signed song workshops as part of The Sage GatesheadSchool’s team. For more information or to book a workshop please contactschools@thesagegateshead.org

HallelujahAlthough it acheivedlittle success initally,

Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ has sincebeen covered by over 200

artists including Jeff Buckley,Alexandra Burke and John

Cale. It was also used inthe ‘Shrek’ movie

soundtrack.

Inspiration teamJudith ThomsonJudith has been working with Gary and Inspiration since

its conception over a year ago and has worked with Gary

for over seven years! She is vocal coach for the soloists

and ensemble, and occasionally deputises for Gary. Judith

also designs the lighting for the Inspiration concerts both

in Gateshead and Leeds.

Judith says, “It is really wonderful to perform and work with

everyone in Inspiration. To sing at The Sage Gateshead with

Northern Sinfonia is so exciting. Gary has described me as

his ‘right hand man’, a title I consider a compliment, honour

and privilege coming from a truly inspirational man!”

Sue MitchellWhen Gary first asked whether Sue would be involved in

Inspiration, little did she know where that would lead!

Three concerts later, numerous seating plans, dressing

room allocation, organising of events – a rehearsal

managers life is a very busy one, but she loves it when the

plan comes together. Someone did a quiz on Facebook

this week and asked “What is Sue Mitchell good at?”. The

answer, “Organising us at Inspiration”. That sums it up nicely,

and now the small matter of a trip to Paris to deal with…

Mallory SmithMallory is the other half of the ‘Sue ‘n’ Mal’ team who

manage rehearsals – take the register, make sure

everyone is okay and have got their music and know

where they need to be and when for Inspiration

rehearsals, performances and outside events.

She invented ‘Singer Sudoko’ when they have to fit

300+ singers into workable seating arrangements by

voice, friendship and special needs requirements –

giving many happy hours of fun!

Earth, Wind AndFire Medley

Formed in Chicago in 1969,African-American band Earth,

Wind and Fire are ranked as theseventh best-selling American

band of all time afterselling over 90 million

albums worldwide.

Programme printed by Potts Printing and Packaging www.potts.co.ukProgramme designed by Penny Wilson E: pw@penny-wilson.co.ukPictures courtesy of Mark Savage, Chris Christodoulou, Sally Baitch and Yorkshire Post Newspapers.

Thanks to…Special thanks as always to everyone who helps with the smooth running ofInspiration. To Sue and Mal (and all their team of helpers), Mark (where would we be without him?), Judith, Chris, Penny, and especially to Sally, Craig and all at The Sage Gateshead for their continued support.

North Music Trust is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee, number 4044936 and as a charity, number 1087445.

Dates for your diary‘Rejoice’ with Inspiration and The Orchestra of Opera North27 November 2010, 7.30pm, Leeds Town Hall

Box office: 0113 224 3801www.leedsconcertseason.com

Sing Together ‘Rejoice’ with Inspiration Choir19 December 2010, 3pm and 7.30pm, The Sage Gateshead

Ticket office: 0191 443 4661www.thesagegateshead.orgTickets available from September

Inspiration will also be performing at:Paris TourIncluding concerts at Disneyland Paris

27 – 31 August 2010

All of the facts found in this programme were provided by ExploreMusic,Gateshead Council’s music information and library service. If you would like to learn more about the artists, composers, music styles or pieces featured in The Sage Gateshead’s events visit ExploreMusic at www.exploremusic.co.uk or come and see us on the Concourse at The Sage Gateshead.

SummerTyne Americana Festival

Hall Two, 25 July, 2pm

Eleanor and Julia’s Big Yee-haw!Saddle up with Eleanor and Julia for a star spangledadventure exploring the USA on a fun-filled, magical,musical road trip for all the family. This concert is aimedat children under 7 but older siblings and grown-ups willundoubtedly enjoy this US of Awesome experience.Children (and grown-ups!), why not dress up in yourfinest cowboy and cowgirl gear?

Tickets: £7 full price, £5 OAP, £3.50 children, students and unwaged

Hall One, 23 July, 7.30pm

Soul of the SouthSolomon Burke and the Souls Alive Orchestra, Phantom Limb and the SummerTyne Gospel Choir

Soul legend and Grammy winner Solomon Burke is one of popular music’s larger-than-life figures. His hits include‘Everybody Needs Somebody to Love’ and ‘Cry to Me’. Alsoon the bill is Phantom Limb, a band which combines classicsouthern soul and country blues, taking influences fromThe Staple Singers and Etta James. Opening the evening is the specially convened SummerTyne Gospel Choir.

Tickets: £24.50

Hall One, 22 July, 7.30pm

The Great Broadway MusicalsLaunching our SummerTyne Americana Festival supported

by One North East, Northern Sinfonia with Principal

Conductor John Wilson take you to the Wild West

with music and songs from shows such as ‘Oklahoma’,

‘Calamity Jane’ and ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’.

Other favourites from American musicals are included,

with star of stage and screen Julian Ovenden (from ‘Foyle’s

War’ and our production of ‘My Fair Lady’ last year).

Tickets: A, B, C and D: £20.50 E: £7

Conductor: John WilsonTenor: Julian OvendenNorthern Sinfonia