Sting and Lee Hall support In Harmony North East

5 November 2012, 17:52

Sting and Lee Hall have pledged their financial support to the In Harmony North East Project.

Musician Sting and playwright Lee Hall have provided financial support to the In Harmony North East project. The initiative, led by The Sage Gateshead, is designed to engage children from deprived communities with orchestral music-making.

Comparable to the Venezuelan 'El Sistema' project that gave the world the Simón Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, it is hoped that In Harmony North East will encourage school children to experience musical tuition from professionals from The Sage Gateshead.

The initiative initially received funding from Arts Council England, which was used to fund basic facilities for Hawthorn Primary School and Ashfield Nursery. The funding from Sting and Lee will be used to further develop facilities at Hawthorn Primary School by providing a cabin in which students can experience and play musical instruments.

Wendy Smith from The Sage Gateshead commented: "We are thrilled to gain this fantastic support from Lee Hall and Sting which gives the children of Hawthorn Primary School, Newcastle a beautiful space to learn music in, now and in the future."