Sting supports new partnership to promote music in schools

Sting is supporting Music Partnership North. Image courtesy of Norman Jean Roy. Wallsend-born musician, Sting is supporting Music Partnership North - a new initiative to promote music tuition and performance in schools across the region and provide opportunities for progression into the music industry. Music Partnership North is a partnership between Newcastle and Northumberland music services, Newcastle College and Sage Gateshead. To launch the partnership, a song featuring hundreds of school children has been recorded and is set for release through Newcastle College’s student run record label, Push Puzzle Records. The song ‘Border to the River’ features the voices and instruments of children from Walbottle Village Primary, Waverley Primary, Knoplaw Primary, St. Georges Primary, Milecastle Primary, Throckley Primary, St.Bede’s First school,  Bedlington, Cramlington Learning Village, Walker Central, Hadrian Special School, Hugh Joicey C of E First School, Berwick upon Tweed and The Northumbrian Ranters. The song was written and composed by Tom Bradley, Operations Manager at the College’s Performance Academy and features the lead vocals of Foundation Degree Popular Music student, Gabrielle Irving. The track also features the production skills and lead guitar of Newcastle College Lecturer, Brian Emerson, who recently returned from Hollywood where he won the coveted ‘Best Blues Artist award’ at the Artists in Music Awards with the Trevor Sewell Band. Brian travelled down to the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London this week to master the track, which is set for release on March 17. Speaking on behalf of Music Partnership North, Tom Bradley said: “There are two main reasons why we decided to create this song. One, to produce an anthem for the North East which celebrates our rich heritage and culture; and two, to promote, inspire and encourage more young people to create and enjoy music. The funding for teaching of music in schools is diminishing and the aim of the partnership is to rekindle this provision and give young aspiring musicians the support and opportunity to develop their talents by reinvesting the revenue from the single release back into music partnership projects.” “Sting is one of the region’s greatest musical exports so to have his backing is a huge boost. He was very excited about the partnership and the song and has already pledged to promote our work through his website, Twitter and Facebook site.” Sting said: “From the first moment I picked up a guitar as a young boy in Wallsend, music has been the most important part of my life. Music Partnership North will give children across the North East the chance to discover a lifelong love of music. The region has a great creative atmosphere and legacy and as this song demonstrates, music is very much alive and an important part of people’s lives.” The track will be available to download from 17th March through digital music retailers, such as iTunes, Amazon, Google and Spotify. All revenue generated from sales of the single will go to Music Partnership North to promote music making through similar projects in the region’s schools. Music Partnership North is a dedicated music education hub for the region and one of 122 hubs set up across England. The partnership was created to support and enhance high quality music education for children and young people and provides musical activities and tuition and curriculum support for schools. For more information visit MPN – Northumberland: http://education.northumberland.gov.uk/music/ MPN – Newcastle: www.newcastlemusic.org.uk