the concert programme

The massed voices of Inspiration present
Inspiration and Northern Sinfonia present
Everywhere
Christmas Tonight
Your Song
with Northern Sinfonia
A spectacular Christmas concert featuring many seasonal favourites,
all given the unique Inspiration treatment, including a fabulous tribute
to the Christmas magic of Henry Mancini.
Musical Director: Gary Griffiths
3 December 2010, The Sage Gateshead
Ticket office: 0191 443 4661
www.thesagegateshead.org
www.inspirationuk.com
Sunday 17 July 2011
Hall One at The Sage Gateshead
Welcome
Let’s All Sing Together
Welcome to The Sage Gateshead once again for
‘Your Song’, the latest Inspiration concert. As
the title suggests, all the songs you will hear have
been chosen by our singers. As a result, this concert
proves to be a spectacular display of Inspiration’s
versatility and a true reflection of all the musical
influences which make up the choir. You will hear
classical choral favourite Verdi’s Dies Irae alongside
Fiddler on the Roof Medley, topped off by Queen’s
Bohemian Rhapsody. I can’t wait!
As someone who is in the audience of an Inspiration concert, you will know
how much The Sage Gateshead believes in the power of singing and that
everyone can sing!
For less confident singers we have our ‘First Steps’ groups including Find Your Voice
and Step into Singing. Once you have found your feet, we also have ‘Next Step’
singing opportunities to suit everyone’s tastes. If you prefer classical, choral singing
we have Philharmonic Voices and the newly formed, women only choir, Femme
Chorale. If you would prefer something a bit different, we have our new Gospel
Choir, Jazz and Blues Choir and the ever popular Voicebeat. And if you’ve been
watching The Choir that Rocks on TV, maybe In the Groove is the choir for you?
As always, I hope that today’s concert will encourage you to take part yourself.
In the same way as the concert embraces all musical influences, we hope that the
music making opportunities offered by The Sage Gateshead are just as diverse.
From September, you will be able to join many new classes being run by the Adult
Programme, including our new Jazz and Blues Choir, Gospel Choir and In the
Groove, which will be working with pop, rock and chart repertoire. And singing isn’t
the only way you can join in! We will be running Absolute Beginners’ Ukulele, Guitar
and Steel Pan sessions to give you a taste of what you could achieve if you wanted
to take your interest further. And this is just the tip of an iceberg. People of all ages
can get involved, just give us a call or have a look on our website.
In addition to our regular, weekly choirs we also
have our special, Sing Together choirs. These are
large scale singing opportunities for absolutely
anyone. There are no auditions, no prior singing
experience is needed and you don’t need to be
able to read music. You just have to love singing
and want to give it a go. All Sing Together
choirs are created to work towards a particular
performance, with a specific theme, so you can
choose to sing in all of them or just one. There
I hope you enjoy today’s concert. I know the choir have enjoyed putting it
together for you.
will be a classical choir singing from January,
Katherine Zeserson
Director of Learning and Participation
in the Summer. Check our website for details.
Your Song
This Elton John classic was
originally released in 1970 in
the US as a B-side. Due to its
popularity, it eventually replaced
the A-side ‘Take Me To The
Pilot’, becoming a hit in
both the US and
UK charts.
a jazz choir in March and an Americana choir
Last, but not least are our Join in and Sing
Days which are great fun and, again, are
for absolutely anyone who enjoys singing!
Conductor Simon Fidler will be leading two
days in 2012, one in January to blow away
the post Christmas blues and the other to
celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee in
June. With 799 other singers and Northern
Sinfonia to support you, what’s stopping you?
To find out more, visit our website at www.thesagegateshead.org or to
enroll contact our ticket office on 0191 443 4661.
Keeping everyone
on their toes
This term has been so much fun. The huge range of songs and styles has kept
everybody on their toes, switching from Rutter to the Beatles, from Madonna to
Verdi, in the blink of an eye. I am so proud of these singers, with their flexibility
and talent. They really do rise to anything I throw at them, embrace it, take it to
their hearts and then perform it for you. What a treat it is for me to work with
them every week.
We continue to perform in the community as well, with charity concerts and
school choir workshops. These ‘extras’ are important to us, as we take our love of
singing out of the concert hall. We are also growing in numbers too, and we are
having to move to new rehearsal venues, both in Leeds and Newcastle, as there
just isn’t enough room for us all where we are!
I hope there is something special for you in tonight’s concert. These songs have
hit a lot of nerves in rehearsal, taking singers back to times in their lives they had
not thought about for a while; this is the power of music, of whatever style.
Thank you as always for your support, on and off stage. I know a lot of singers
would not be able to sing in Inspiration if it wasn’t for the support of loved ones
at home.
Gary
Sgt. Pepper’s
(Beatles Opening)
Recognised as one of the
most important albums in the
history of popular music,
‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts
Club Band’ was one of the first
pop albums to include the
full lyrics on its
record sleeve.
Gary Griffiths
Inspiration Musical Director
Gary was educated at Wolverhampton Grammar
School where he first started to get involved with
music. He went on to York University to study
music, continuing to play oboe and percussion
and, of course, singing. He graduated in 1988 and
stayed in York to live, working as a Songman in
the Minster Choir. With the Choir he sang in many
of the world’s great cathedrals and churches in
the USA and Europe and many of the major
concert halls in the UK.
Northern Sinfonia, orchestra of The Sage Gateshead, has built a distinctive
reputation as a fresh thinking, versatile orchestra, performing repertoire spanning
three centuries and regularly commissioned new work.
“The Sage Gateshead has become one of the world’s most admired centres
for music and Northern Sinfonia has raised its game to match.”
Richard Morrison, The Times
The orchestra’s work includes concerts, broadcasts, recordings, national and
international touring with its Music Director Thomas Zehetmair, Principal
Conductors Simon Halsey, John Wilson and Mario Venzago and guest artists.
Northern Sinfonia regularly appears at leading venues throughout the world and
appears at major festivals including a residency at the Hong Kong Festival in 2009.
Northern Sinfonia musicians are part of The Sage Gateshead’s wide ranging
Learning & Participation programme, which offers opportunities for everyone
to make music of all kinds, whatever their age or ability.
Projects away from the classical mainstream include working with the Pet Shop
Boys at a shipyard in North East England, a concert with Sting performing brand
new orchestrations of his hits, and being invited by harpist and singer Joanna
Newsom to join her UK tour launching her critically acclaimed album Ys.
CDs recorded by Northern Sinfonia at The Sage Gateshead include Sibelius’
Symphonies 3 & 6 and Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto – “Thomas Zehetmair brings
the work alive marvelously – four stars”; Brahms and Schumann – BBC Music
magazine’s Disc of the Month, “Zehetmair’s daring success”; and Mozart Piano
Concertos with Imogen Cooper – five star reviews in Classic FM magazine and
The Sunday Telegraph.
For more information visit www.thesagegateshead.org
Whilst at university he discovered his love of musical theatre. He soon joined
York Light Opera Society, eventually becoming their Chorus Master. He also
became Musical Director for Pickering Musical Society and Sing Live. It was
orchestrating ‘Annie’ for Pickering that led him to start his own business,
arranging and orchestrating. Which of course eventually led to Inspiration.
On the non-musical side, Gary is an excellent cook and is also a member of
the Rollercoaster Club of Great Britain.
Mark Deeks
Pianist
Mark has worked as Course Leader for Music
at New College Durham since 2004, where he
specialises in performance, music theory and
arranging. He holds the Diploma of the Associated
Board of the Royal Schools of Music in piano
teaching, and is studying for a PhD with the
University of Leeds, looking at National Identity,
Heritage and Mythology in Rock and Metal.
Mark is Inspiration’s rehearsal pianist as well as
contributing some of their arrangements. Having played piano for more than
28 years, Mark has built up a wealth of experience working as a freelance
performer, musical director, arranger and singer-songwriter. He regularly works
as a function pianist, and his debut solo album of folk-influenced, acoustic
songs was released in August 2010. Please visit www.markdeeksmusic.com
or www.piano-player-newcastle.co.uk for further details.
Your Song
Part one
Part two
Beatles Opening
Tyneside Medley
Dies Irae
Ensemble
McCartney, Lennon and Harrison
Various
Verdi
Soprano 1
Shine
Denise Saunders, Mike Humble
and Company
The Lord Is My Shepherd
Barlow, Donald, Orange, Owen and Robson
Anne Marie Gardener, Fiona Jones, Rachel Hill,
Eileen Dougherty, Helen Sidaway, Hayley Llandro
Rutter
and Anna Nardini
In Trutina
Soprano 2
Kirsten Walton, Denise Saunders,
Lorna Taylor, Bryony Cufflin, Suzanne
Williams, Sara Morgan and Company
Orff
Sara Morgan, Cath McNaught, Suzanne Williams,
Anne Marie Gardener
Jill Parkin, Dawn Ritch, Becky Dunn, Collette Brady,
Bohemian Rhapsody
Bock and Harnick
Like A Prayer
Cry Me A River
Hamilton
Sara Morgan
If Ever I Would Leave You
Lerner and Loewe
Company Tenors and Basses
Madonna
Mercury
One Day Like This
Battle Hymn Of The Republic
Garvey
Howe and Steffe
Chris Keith, Erica Morgan
and Company
Company
Helen Pryor, Mallory Smith, Sue Mitchell,
Fiddler On The Roof Medley
Conquest Of Paradise
Vangelis
Denise Saunders, Kirsten Walton, Judith Platt,
Pat O’Connor, Anjanette Berrie, Lorna Taylor,
Christine Gardner and Jane Ormston
Alto 2
Enya and Ryan
Helen Pearce, Emma Goldie, Laura Straker,
Company Sopranos and Altos
Andria Moffatt, Patsy Millen, Hilary Dobson,
Ann Kaiser, Susie McKeag and Katherine Saunders
This Is The Moment
Zauner, Briggs, Touchton and Strobel
Wildhorn and Bricusse
Chris Keith
Softly As I Leave You
Patrick Love and Ensemble
Alto 1
Orinoco Flow
Keeping The Dream Alive
Shaper and De Vita
Rose Goldie and Jill Hardman
Conquest Of Paradise
Vangelis’ ‘Conquest Of
Paradise’ is taken from Ridley
Scott’s epic 1992 film of the same
name. Starring Gérard Depardieu
it tells the story of Columbus’
Bohemian Rhapsody
discovery of the New World
Released in 1975, this Queen
and its effect on the
classic is unique in that it does
indigenous people.
not include a chorus. Instead the
song consists of six sections, with
abrupt changes in style, tone and
tempo. It also includes over
120 vocal tracks layered
together using a 24 track
tape machine.
For As Long As I Have Music
Besig
Tenor
Erica Morgan, Tony Fox, Chris Keith,
Steve Duncan, Bryony Cufflin, Barney Coyle
and David Dick
Bass
Peter Berrie, Oliver Barnsley, Mike Humble,
The Winner Takes it All
Jeffrey Dougherty, Elliott Ward, James McCoy
Andersson and Ulvaeus
and Donald Bradford
Sara Morgan with Denise Saunders
and Kirsten Walton
I Have A Dream
Andersson and Ulvaeus
Your Song/It Was Your Song
John, Taupin and Brooks
Beatles Medley
McCartney, Lennon
Cliff Lee
Signed Song Interpreter
Cliff is an experienced BSL communicator who
has worked with The Sage Gateshead since 2004.
Amongst other projects, Cliff has set up several
signed song choirs within the North East. He
also runs courses for teachers and other trainers
and facilitates Sign Song workshops across
the community.
Cliff holds a BSL Level 3 certificate, and has just
completed a teaching degree. In his spare time he
is learning to play the piano and enjoys nothing
more than looking after his twin grandsons.
Cliff has been working with Inspiration since they started in 2009. He loves
working with the choir and is looking forward to introducing more people to
the joy of song through the beauty of sign language.
Charlie Charlton
Narrator
Charlie Charlton is co-presenter of BBC Newcastle’s
Breakfast Show, weekdays from 6.30 – 10am.
Charlie has been with BBC Newcastle for seven
years and is an experienced broadcast journalist.
Born in Gateshead, Charlie studied Philosophy at
University College London, then after starting her
career in media, she studied Broadcast Journalism
at the London College of Printing.
Inspiration team
Judith Thompson
Judith has been working with Gary and Inspiration since
its conception and has worked with Gary for over eight
years! She is vocal coach for the soloists and occasionally
deputises for Gary. Judith also designs the lighting for
the Inspiration concerts both in Gateshead and Leeds.
Judith says, “It’s really wonderful to perform and work
with everyone in Inspiration. To sing at The Sage
Gateshead with Northern Sinfonia, and be part of the
concerts in Leeds, is so exciting and rewarding. I also
consider it a privilege and honour to work alongside
Gary, who is a truly Inspirational man”.
Sue Mitchell
It is always a satisfying feeling on concert day when
everything ‘works’ and we have relaxed yet excited
singers ready to perform their hearts out. There is much
planning and organising to do behind the scenes with
Inspiration for concert day, for charity concerts and, of
course, future trips. Organising Inspiration is hard work
but very rewarding, especially when a plan comes
together. We’ve been working hard in the last few months
on our next venture performing at Edinburgh Festival in
2012. Accommodation for 300 during Edinburgh’s busiest
month of the year… now that is a challenge!
Charlie then headed back to the North East and
worked as a freelance journalist in various places
including Metro Radio and then onto BBC Newcastle, where she has worked
as an investigative reporter, producer, news reader and as a travel reporter. She
has also reported for the World Service and 6Music. Aside from radio, Charlie
presents the lunchtime and evening television news for BBC Look North.
Mallory Smith
Charlie lives in Gateshead and has hosted many large music and charity events
in the region. She is also patron of a charity in Newcastle for disabled children
and their families. Charlie has always been passionate about live music – whether
playing in orchestras, singing in choirs or playing in bands whilst growing up,
to being an avid gig and festival-goer. She has also hosted various events at
The Sage Gateshead including their 5th birthday celebrations.
So this term we have a new rehearsal venue to try out,
singers’ voting forms to collect, application forms for
next year’s exciting trip to Edinburgh to collect… oh and
I nearly forgot… quite a few words and music for a lot of
brand new songs to learn for this concert! You’ll hear for
yourself if we’ve succeeded – it should be great!
Mallory is the other half of the ‘Sue ‘n’ Mal’ team, taking
registers, answering queries and keeping the singers in
the loop of what needs to happen to ensure we have
300 plus smiling faces on concert day!
Our singers
Lynn Adamson
Ki Anglesea
Ray Anglesea
Louise Antons
Angela Appleby
Barbara Armstrong
Ruth Askey
Cathryn Atkinson
Barbara Bainbridge
Freda Barber
Sue Barnes
Oliver Barnsley
Kim Barry
Anne Bartle
Moira Bell
Lindsay Bellwood
Anjanette Berrie
Peter Berrie
Karen Blenkinsop
Margaret Bolam
Emma Bosomworth
Donald Bradford
Joan Bradford
Collette Brady
Peter Brougham
Winifred Brown
Trish Bryans
Diana Buchan
Liz Buchan
Gloria Cain
Carol Capaldi
Elizabeth Carr
Maureen Carrahar
Sheila Carruthers
Claire Clarke
Rachel Cloke
Simon Coatsworth
Elaine Colquhoun
Barney Coyle
Lorraine Craig
Susan Craigs
Margaret Criddle
Linda Cruickshank
Bryony Cufflin
Sharon Dalby
Patricia Davidson
Mark Davies
Tim Deveaux
David Dick
Elizabeth Dinning
Roger Dinning
Susan Dinning
Colin Dobson
Hilary Dobson
Irene Dolan
Audrey Donaldson
Eileen Dougherty
Jeffrey Dougherty
Susan Dove
Aileen Drummond
Linda Duckworth
Lyall Duffus
Steve Duncan
Becky Dunn
Eva Eden
Mandy Elkin
Ann Ellis
Mavis Emerson
John Emmerson
Glynis Evans
Jennifer Falconer
Jean Falkous
Joanne Fawcett
Carolyn Fenton
Heather Forster
Tracey Foskett
Tony Fox
Vivien Frazer
Anne Marie Gardener
Christine Gardner
Evelyn Gardner
William Gardner
Alison George
Joyce Gibson
Judith Gibson
Elaine Gifford
Maureen Gilroy
Sandie Ginks
Bob Gladwin
Emma Goldie
Rose Goldie
Brenda Graham
David Graham
Jane Greenshields
Jean Greenwood
Dorothy Gregory
Alison Griffin
Jeannie Griffin
Clare Hagan
Margot Haigh
Cynthia Hall
Vivienne Hall
Pauline Hankinson
Jill Hanna
Jill Hardman
Leila Harris
Lesley Hehir
Gerald Henderson
Elizabeth Hewett
Rachel Hill
Carol Hindhaugh
Alan Hobson
Julie Hobson
Judith Hodson
Peter Holland
Dawn Holmes
Helen Holmes
Peter Hopkins
Joy Houghton
Joanne Hull
Nancy Hull
Michael Humble
Jean Humphrey
Irene Hutchinson
Helen Jarvis
Helen Jefferson
Angela Jesney
Nicola Johnson
Trudy Johnson
Fiona Jones
Grenville Jones
Ann Kaiser
Alex Kean
Christopher Keith
Sheila Kendall
Tony Kennan
Patricia Kidd
Sheila Kimber
Susan Knott
Karen Knox
Liz Kreibich
Jean Latimer
Alyson Laws
Alice Leaver
Gill Lisk
Hayley Llandro
Denise Lodge
Patrick Love
Wendy Lowdon
Patricia Lowery
Billy Lowther
Norma Luke
Anne Lyon
Debbie MacQueen
Barbara Mason
Peter Masterson
Anne Maughan
Sue McCarthy
Liz McCoull
James McCoy
Glynis McGlen
Dorothy McGuiness
Susannah McKeag
Irene McLane
Rachel McMurray
Catherine McNaught
Anna Meikle
Andrew Mellon
Sue Mellon
Patsy Millen
Sheila Millen
Elaine Mills
Sue Mitchell
Andria Moffatt
Christine Monks
Erica Morgan
Jenny Morgan
Sara Morgan
Sue Morgan
George Mossop
Jan Moyes
Vivienne Muir
Nicola Mulgrew
Janice Mylroi
Anna Nardini
Anne Noble
Patricia O’Connor
Lou Okello
Cate O’Neill
James Orange
Jane Ormston
Heather Page
Rachel Park
Monica Parker
Derek Parkin
Jill Parkin
Pam Patterson
Ron Patterson
Helen Pearce
Valerie Pickering
Richard Pickersgill
Christina Pinder
Jeffrey Platt
Judith Platt
Sheila Platt
Sheila Price
Lynne Pringle
Annie Proud
Helen Pryor
Dorothy Rae
Sandra Reay
Elizabeth Regnard
Janet Richardson
Alison Rigg
Dawn Ritch
Kathy Roberts
Lynn Robinson
Barbara Roper
Fiona Routledge
Pat Roxborough
Alison Russell
Denise Saunders
Katherine Saunders
Veronica Schubeler
Lorraine Scott
Margaret Scullion
Verity Shepley
Pauline Sibbald
Helen Sidaway
Charlie Slater
Beatrice Smith
Catherine Smith
Helen Smith
Judy Smith
Mallory Smith
Maureen Smith
Liz Soloman
Jane Speak
Margaret Spedding
Ann Stephenson
Laura Straker
Richard Straker
Helen Swales
Sandra Swinburn
Lesley Tanney
Lorna Taylor
Hilary Temperley
Stephen Temperley
Pauline Thirlaway
Joanna Thompson
Judith Thompson
Julie Thompson
Norman Thompson
Daphne Thornton
Sakeenat Tijani
Pamela Tomlinson
Brenda Tonks
Rebecca Trevarrow
Jill Turnbull
Maddy Upton
Sheila Urwin
Jennifer Wade
Heather Walker
Susanne Walker
Bronwyn Walton
Kirsten Walton
Elliott Ward
Sarah Watling
Marie Waugh
Kate Welford
Mary Wellington
Anne Wemyss
Merle White
Claire Whitfield
Annie Wilks
Suzanne Williams
Sarah Winthrop
Anne Wood
Elaine Woolcock
Keeping The Dream Alive
Despite selling millions of
albums throughout Europe
‘Keeping The Dream Alive’ is
German pop and rock band
Münchener Freiheit’s only hit
in the UK, reaching
number 14 in 1988.
Fiddler On The Roof
With over 3,000 performances
‘Fiddler On The Roof’ was
Broadway’s longest running
show, until it was surpassed by
Grease. Nearly fifty years after
opening it is still Broadway’s
fourteenth longest-running
show ever.
Lyrics
I Have A Dream
I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels, something good in everything I see
I believe in angels, when I know the time is right for me
I’ll cross the stream
I have a dream
I have a dream, a fantasy
To help me through reality
And my destination makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness still another mile
I believe in angels, something good in everything I see
I believe in angels, when I know the time is right for me
I’ll cross the stream
I have a dream
Dies Irae
I’ll cross the stream
I have a dream
Verdi’s Requiem was
composed in memory of Italian
poet and novelist Alessandro
Manzoni, whom Verdi much
admired. It was first performed
Special thanks as always to everyone who
in 1874 to mark the
helps with the smooth running of Inspiration.
first anniversary of
To Sue and Mal (and all their team of helpers),
Manzoni’s death.
Mark (where would we be without him?), Judith,
Chris, Penny, and especially to Sally, Katherine, Craig
and all at The Sage Gateshead for their continued support.
Thanks to…
North Music Trust is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee,
number 4044936 and as a charity, number 1087445.
Programme designed by Penny Wilson E: [email protected]
Programme printed by Potts Print (UK) Ltd www.potts.co.uk
Pictures courtesy of Mark Savage, Sally Baitch, Rayburn Tours (Francesca Bridges)
and Yorkshire Post Newspapers.