www.inspirationuk.com

Inspiration and Northern Sinfonia present

Music Director: Gary GriffithsNarrator: Charlie Charlton

Sunday 2 December 2012Hall One at The Sage Gateshead

The massed voices of Inspiration present

And TheWinner Is…with Northern SinfoniaIn the first of Inspiration’s year-long journey through the greatestmusical theatre hits, we bring you ‘And The Winner Is…’ featuring hitsongs from Tony Award-winning musicals. ‘The Phantom Of The Opera’,‘Cats’, ‘Les Misérables’, ‘South Pacific’; so many of your favourites will begiven the unique Inspiration treatment…

Sunday 17 March 2013, The Sage GatesheadTicket Office: 0191 443 4661www.thesagegateshead.org

Believe

WelcomeWelcome once again to Inspiration’s Christmasconcert. Since we saw Inspiration last, I know thatthey have been very busy. Amongst other ventures,they undertook a very successful tour to Edinburgh.And now they have a tour of New York plannedfor 2014. There is no stopping them!

Of course, ‘Believe’ is just one of many Christmasperformances taking place over the next fewweeks. Almost all of our Adult Programme groupsand Silver groups have performances on TheConcourse as part of our free Seasonal Music on the Concourse programme.

If you are in the area on 7 December, why not drop into The Clubhouse in Low Fell,the home of Silvers Rock. They are having a Christmas open day from 11am – 4pm.17 December sees The Sage Gateshead Chamber Choir, Femme Chorale andPhilharmonic Voices performing their Winter Choral Spectacular in Hall Two andyou will be able to catch our newest ‘Up for a Challenge’ choir which is led bySimon Fidler, Project: Singing, performing as part of the BBC Radio NewcastleChristmas Concert which will be broadcast on Christmas Day.

I really hope that you enjoy today’s concert. If you feel inspired enough to give ita go yourself check The Sage Gateshead’s website for information about choirsyou can join, our amazing New Year’s Eve Abba Choir opportunity and our Joinin and Sing day on 5 January.

Katherine ZesersonDirector of Learning and Participation

Originally recorded in1958 ‘Rockin’ Around TheChristmas Tree’ was also

performed in 1987 by singerKim Wilde and comedianMel Smith to raise funds

for Comic Relief.

It’s official! Singing isgood for your health!I’m sure many of you watched Gareth Malone setting up workplace choirs in hisrecent BBC show ‘Sing While You Work’. How many of you watching thought that achoir like that in your own workplace would be a good idea? You would be right!

Singing isn’t just good fun. Numerous studies haveshown that participating in singing can have manybeneficial effects including an increased happinessand sense of well-being, enhanced posture, deeperbreathing, stress relief and the opportunity toforget worries. Statistics show us that:

• in 2006/07, the Health and Safety Executiveestimated that 2.2 million people weresuffering from an illness they believed wascaused by their current or past work.

• 13760 estimated days were lost to theworkforce due to illness causedby stress, depression or anxiety.

• stress is listed as one of the topthree reported health and safetyrisks by British employers.

Singing requires no prior skills, nospecial equipment and most roomsare suitable making it the idealworkplace activity. The SageGateshead can help you establisha workplace choir, so that you canoffer your entire workforce the opportunity to reap the rewards of regular groupsinging. For one hour a week, it is possible for people from different teams to getto know each other better and build working relationships in an informal settingwhilst discovering the health benefits, sense of wellbeing and feelgood factorwhich comes with singing. We can teach you to play the ukulele too…

For more information contact musicintheworkplace@thesagegateshead.orgor call Sally Kat on 0191 443 4623

Inspiration performing at The Festival Fringe, Edinburgh

Santa is hereagain YES! As you can see when you look at the singers, the theme for this concert is

glamour. All the songs in tonight’s concert have been used in movies of one

sort or another so we thought dressing up was in order – give it the red

carpet treatment.

As always rehearsals have been great fun, they really do take you out of yourself

for just those couple of hours a week. I know this means a lot to many singers,

and I have felt the need myself this term as well, and the good thing is – I get

two nights a week, with Inspiration in Newcastle and Leeds. The support and

friendship that is in abundance in Inspiration is magnificent, and all through the

joy of singing. The most personal, powerful music making possible. Long may

it continue.

I hope you have a happy and healthy Christmas.

Gary‘Carol Of The Bells’

is based on a traditionalUkrainian folk chant known as

a ‘Shchedryk’ and is mainlyrecognised by its four-note

ostinato motif which repeatsthroughout the piece.

Northern Sinfonia, Orchestra of The Sage Gateshead, has built a distinctivereputation as a fresh-thinking and versatile orchestra. Members are chosen tobe part of a community of musicians who present a wide range of repertoirefrom both the orchestral and chamber canons spanning three centuries ofcomposers. Under its Music Director, Thomas Zehetmair, Northern Sinfoniahas taken a dedicated approach to stylistic excellence in all the genres that itperforms aiming to present the music ‘as if the ink were still wet on the page’.

Performances in its world-class home are complemented by an extensiveprogramme of activity in the local and regional community, as well as nationallyand internationally, through performance, education and participation. Thisseason engagements include the 2012 BBC Proms and in the Southbank Centre’s2013 yearlong festival ‘The Rest is Noise’, and the orchestra will continue toperform regularly in Middlesbrough, Kendal, Harrogate, Dewsbury, Huddersfieldand Nottingham. Northern Sinfonia work with families and schools across theregion, The Sage Gateshead’s Young Musicians Programme students includingits youth orchestra Young Sinfonia, and advanced composition students atNewcastle University.

A full series of classical concerts is complemented with regular collaborationswith artists from other art forms to create special moments of musical integration.Sting, Pet Shop Boys, Joanna Newsome, Debbie Harry and Raul Malo haveworked with the orchestra and the musicians have taken an active role in TheSage Gateshead’s celebrated festivals including Gateshead International JazzFestival, Fiddles on Fire and SummerTyne. This year Northern Sinfonia alsojoined forces with Danish band Efterklang for their UK ‘Piramida’ tour.

For more information visit www.thesagegateshead.org

Mark DeeksPianistMark has played piano for almost 30 years, andhas built up a weath of experience as a freelanceperformer, musical director, arranger and teacher.In 2011 he co-wrote and starred in ‘Monopolise’ acomedy musical by BBC’s Alfie Joey, whilst his MDcredits include ‘West Side Story’, ‘Buddy’ and ‘TheSound of Music’. Mark is the rehearsal pianist andassistant arranger for Inspiration, regularly worksas a function pianist, and his debut album of folk-influenced, acoustic songs was released in 2010.Mark holds the Diploma of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Musicin piano teaching, is currently studying for a PhD with the University of Leeds,looking at Nordic National Identity, Heritage and Mythology in Heavy Metal and has recently started to have some of his research published. For moreinformation, or to hire Mark, please visit www.piano-player-newcastle.co.uk.

Gary GriffithsInspiration Music DirectorI have been singing for as long as I can remember.Wolverhampton Grammar School was my majormusical influence – School Choir, Choral Society,Musical Theatre Group, Jazz Band – alongside theYouth Orchestra (where I was principal oboist) andthe Concert Band (principal percussion).

When it came to University it had to be music, andso to York. Three wonderful years of constantmusic making also included being Chorus Masterfor York Light Opera, and Musical Director for Pickering Musical Society.

I was by now (mid–90s) a tenor (yes really) in the Choir of York Minster with all thatentails; daily services as well as many world tours, concerts and recordings. After 18years , I left and became part of the creative team behind the formation of SingLive.

Now, with Inspiration as my sole focus, I really do have my dream job. Weeklyrehearsals are a joy. Our trips around the country and abroad are like taking afamily on holiday – even if it is a rather extended family of 400. And I do thinkof the singers as just that. My musical family.

Christmas At The MoviesNorthern SinfoniaVarious

Merry Christmas, Merry ChristmasHome AloneWilliams and Bricusse

Winter WonderlandElf and The HolidayBernard and Smith

Let It SnowDie Hard SeriesCahn and Styne

Walking In The AirThe SnowmanBlake

The Best Christmas Of AllMrs Santa ClausHerman

Somewhere In My MemoryHome AloneWilliams and Bricusse

BelieveThe Polar ExpressBallard and Silvestri

The Bells Of ChristmasNorthern SinfoniaVarious

Carol Of The BellsHome Alone and The Santa ClauseLeontovych and Wilhousky

O Holy NightHome AloneAdam

Rockin’ Around The Christmas TreeJingle All The WayMarks

Jingle Bell RockHome Alone 2: Lost In New Yorkand Lethal WeaponBeal and Boothe

God Bless Us EveryoneDisney’s A Christmas CarolBallard and Silvestri

Suo GanEmpire Of The SunTraditional

The First NoelFred ClausTraditional

We Need A Little ChristmasMameHerman

MameMameHerman

BelievePart one Part two

‘Believe’ was originallyperformed by Josh Groban

in 2004 for the performancecapture film ‘The Polar Express’.

As well as winning a GrammyAward it also received anomination for an Oscar

and a Golden Globe.

Originally sung byAndrea Bocelli, ‘God Bless

Us Everyone’ is from Disney’sthird telling of ‘A ChristmasCarol’ following ‘Mickey’s

Christmas Carol’ in 1983 and‘The Muppet Christmas

Carol’ in 1992.

Although madefamous by Aled Jones,

‘Walking In The Air’ wasactually performed by

St Paul’s Cathedral choirboyPeter Auty on the original

film soundtrack.

Inspiration teamSue MitchellGosh the Edinburgh trip seems like a long timeago, but what a resounding success it was! Highenergy, high emotion, and wonderful singing inamazing venues. By the time you read this we willhave made a return trip to Disneyland Paris.Singing at Disneyland is always magical but thisyear is their 20th Anniversary celebration, so anextra special singing opportunity for us.

So on the back of two successful trips, andknowing that I love a challenge in terms of makingthings happen, (my family think I’m crazy I’m sure)we are off to New York! Just a small matter of swapping bus lists for flight listand all will be well. Imagine, a sea of black and red at the top of the RockefellerCentre – can’t wait, start spreading the news…

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. Healso runs courses for teachers and other trainersand facilitates Sign Song workshops acrossthe community.

Cliff holds a BSL Level 3 certificate, and hascompleted a teaching degree. In his spare timehe is learning to play the piano and enjoys nothingmore than looking after his twin grandsons.

Cliff has been working with Inspiration since they started in 2009. He lovesworking with the choir and is looking forward to introducing more people tothe joy of song through the beauty of sign language.

Mallory SmithMallory, one of the team of volunteer helpers,starring in a survival blanket acquired at theEdinburgh Festival – don’t ask!!

This was a shot taken at the last night party, whenwe all had a great laugh as we reminisced aboutprevious concerts we had done, and enjoyedreliving the success of our ‘Edinburgh Tour’.

Inspirationers on tour certainly know how to havefun as well as turn on an emotional performanceas required. And we are pretty good at dealingwith water emergencies too – a burst water mainin Edinburgh that left quite a lot of our party high and ‘dry’ was followed by acancelled rehearsal this term due to flooding!

Fingers crossed that we are only singing about ‘frightful weather outside’ thisChristmas, and we are not building snowmen anywhere but in your imaginations.

This is a fun-filled concert, a bit like the best Christmas tree decorations – lots ofsparkles, a few well loved favourites and a couple of holy ones too. Enjoy!

Charlie Charlton NarratorCharlie Charlton is co-presenter of the award-winning BBC Newcastle breakfast show, presenteron BBC’s Look North on BBC One and a reporterfor the BBC’s Inside Out programme.

Born in Gateshead, Charlie studied Philosophy atUniversity College London, then, after starting hercareer in media, she studied Broadcast Journalismat the London College of Printing.

Charlie then headed back to the North East andworked as a freelance journalist in various places,including Metro Radio and then onto BBC Newcastle, where she has worked as aninvestigative reporter, producer, news reader and as a travel reporter. She has alsoreported for the World Service and 6Music.

Charlie lives in Gateshead and has hosted many large music and charity events in theregion. She is also patron of Newcastle Toy and Leisure Library, a charity for disabledchildren and their families and the Cyrenians, a charity which supports homeless andvulnerable people across the region. Charlie has always been passionate about livemusic – whether playing in orchestras, singing in choirs or playing in bands whilstgrowing up, to being an avid gig and festival-goer. She has also hosted variousevents at The Sage Gateshead, including their 5th birthday celebrations.

Our singersLynn AdamsonKi AngleseaRay AngleseaAngela ApplebyBarbara ArmstrongCathryn AtkinsonBarbara BainbridgeFreda BarberSue BarnesKim BarryAnne BartleMoira BellAnna BellwoodLindsay BellwoodAnjanette BerriePeter BerrieKaren BlenkinsopMargaret BolamEmma BosomworthDonald BradfordJean BradfordCollette BradyClare BraysonDawn BriggsPeter BroughamWinifred BrownTrish BryansDiana BuchanLiz BuchanGraeme Caddies-GreenGloria CainCarol CapaldiElizabeth CarrKirsty CarrMaureen CarraharSheila CarruthersChris ChipchaseDoris ClaveringRachel ClokeSimon CoatsworthLinda CorrieBarney CoyleLorraine CraigSusan CraigsMargaret CriddleLinda CruickshankBryony CufflinSharon DalbyMark DaviesIrlane Davison

Tim DeveauxDavid DickRoger DinningSusan DinningColin DobsonHilary DobsonIrene DolanAudrey DonaldsonEileen DoughertyJeff DoughertySusan DoveAileen DrummondLinda DuckworthLyall DuffusSteve DuncanBecky DunnEva EdenAnn EllisMavis EmersonJohn EmmersonGlynis EvansJennifer FalconerJean FalkousJoanne FawcettSamantha ForsterEric FosterVivien FrazerSiona GaffneyAnne-Marie GardenerChristine GardnerEvelyn GardnerJoyce GibsonJudith GibsonElaine GiffordMaureen GilroySandie GinksBob GladwinRose GoldieBrenda GrahamDavid GrahamJean GreenwoodDorothy GregoryAlison GriffinJeannie GriffinChristopher GulliverClare HaganCynthia HallSally HallVivienne HallPauline Hankinson

Jill HannaJill HardmanLesley HehirElizabeth HewettRachel HillCarol HindhaughAlan HobsonJulie HobsonJudith HodsonPeter HollandDawn HolmesHelen HolmesPeter HopkinsJoy HoughtonNicola HowesMichael HumbleJean HumphreyAdrian HunterIrene HutchinsonDominic InmanAngela JewittNicola JohnsonTrudy JohnsonSue JohnstonFiona JonesGrenville JonesAnn KaiserAlex KeanSheila KendallTony KennanAnne KentAlison KerrPatricia KiddNigel KidwellSheila KimberLiz KnightSusan KnottLiz KreibichStephen LangleyJean LatimerAlyson LawsAlice LeaverGill LiskHayley LlandroChristina LockeDenise LodgeMo LovattWendy LowdonPatricia LoweryWilliam Lowther

Norma LukeAnne LyonDebbie MacqueenGill MarshallMaureen MarshallBarbara MasonPeter MastersonAnne MaughanDavid McBethSue McCarthyElizabeth McCoullJames McCoyGlynis McGlenDorothy McGuinessSusannah McKeagIrene McLaneCatherine McNaughtAnna MeikleAndy MellonSue MellonSheila MillenElaine MillsSue MitchellChristine MonksErica MorganSara MorganSue MorganGeorge MossopJohn MuirVivienne MuirJohn MunroJanice MylroiAnna NardiniAnne NoblePatricia O’ConnorLouise OkelloJames OrangeDavid ParkerMonica ParkerJill ParkinPam PattersonRon PattersonAnn PaxtonHelen PearceRichard PickersgillJeffrey PlattJudith PlattSheila PriceLynn PringleGareth Pritchard

Helen PryorDorothy RaeSandra ReayElizabeth RegnardRebecca RichardsonJanet RichardsonAlison RiggDawn RitchKathy RobertsLynn RobinsonBarbara RoperFiona RoutledgePat RoxboroughAlison RussellDenise SaundersKatherine SaundersVeronica SchubelerLorraine ScottMargaret Scullion

Pauline SibbaldHazel SimpsonCharlie SlaterHelen SmithJanice SmithJudy SmithMallory SmithMaureen SmithLiz SolomanJane SpeakMargaret SpeddingGeoff SteeleCate StephensAnn StephensonSue StrakerLaura StrakerMichael SuddesSandra SwinburnLesley Tanney

Janice TaylorLorna TaylorHilary TemperleyStephen TemperleyPauline ThirlawayMarie ThomJoanna ThompsonJulie ThompsonDaphne ThorntonTony ThorntonCaroline TickleSakeenat TijaniPamela TomlinsonBrenda TonksSarah ToogoodAlan TowersRebecca TrevarrowJill TurnbullMaddy Upton

Sheila UrwinJennifer WadeLorraine WadeSuzanne WalkerChristine WallaceBronwyn WaltonKirsten WaltonSarah WatlingMarie WaughMary WellingtonAnne WemyssMerle WhiteClaire WhitfieldAnn WilkesSuzanne WilliamsSarah WinthropAnne Wood

‘Let It Snow’ waswritten in Hollywood in

July 1945 during one of thehottest days on record. It hasbeen covered by a number

of artists including DeanMartin, Doris Day andThe Puppini Sisters.

John Williams’ Oscarnominated ‘Somewhere in

my Memory’ was written for‘Home Alone’ as the backbonefor the film’s soundtrack and

can be heard throughoutthe film either in full or

as fragments.Inspiration performing at the Royal Scots War Memorial,Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh

Programme designed by Penny Wilson E: pw@penny-wilson.co.ukProgramme printed by Potts Print (UK) Ltd www.potts.co.ukPictures courtesy of Mark Savage, Yorkshire Post Newspapers, Gary Griffiths,Dan Brady, Orange Eyes Ltd and Rayburn Tours.

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‘And The Winner Is…’ with Inspiration and Northern SinfoniaSunday 17 March 2013, The Sage Gateshead

Ticket Office: 0191 443 4661www.thesagegateshead.org

‘And The Winner Is…’ with Inspirationand The Orchestra of Opera NorthSunday 21 April 2013, Leeds Town Hall

Box Office: 0113 224 3801www.leedsconcertseason.com

‘We Need A LittleChristmas’ is a popular

song from the Broadwaymusical and film ‘Mame’,

however it was also used as theopening number of ‘A MuppetFamily Christmas’ and in the

1979 Christmas episodeof ‘Crossroads’.

Composed by AdolpheAdam, ‘O Holy Night’ was

written in 1847 to the Frenchpoem ‘Minuit, Chrétiens’(Midnight, Christians) by

Placide Cappeau.

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 webe without him?), Chris, Penny, and especially to Sally, Craig, Fiona, Britta and allat The Sage Gateshead for their continued support.

Family Fun at The Sage Gateshead this Christmas

Santa’s Magical Mystery TourEvery Saturday and Sunday throughout December,10.30am & 1.30pm, plus Christmas Eve (10.30am only)

Festive fun for little ones! Meet Father Christmas andhear the real story of how Santa got stuck up thechimney; get crafty with the Helpers making newChristmassy creations and join in with seasonalsinging in this 90 minute magical mystery tour.

First child: £8, Second child: £6, Adults: FreeAdult supervision required.Maximum 2 adults per family.Suitable for 1 – 10 year olds

The GruffaloHall One, Friday 28 December 2pm and 5pm

Conductor: Terry DaviesNorthern Sinfonia

New for 2012 – we’ll be screening the hugelyacclaimed films ‘The Gruffalo’ and ‘The Gruffalo’sChild’, and for the first time ever they will beaccompanied live by an orchestra. NorthernSinfonia, Orchestra of The Sage Gatesheadwill play René Aubry’s enchanting scores.

Tickets: £18, Family ticket £60

Early Years Big Family Sing and DanceNorthern Rock Foundation HallThursday 27th December, 1pm and 2.30pmand Friday 28 December, 10.30am and 12 noon

Come and join us for a large helping of fun, song anddance led by musicians from our Early Years and FamilyLearning Team.

This whole family celebration includes songs and dancesfrom around the world especially chosen for under 7s.Come in your party best!

Parents must attend with their children.

Tickets: £2.50

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