Samling comes out of the concert hall for a garden party this weekend, as DAVID WHETSTONE reports

ONE of the region’s most celebrated arts charities moves from indoors to outdoors this weekend with a summer garden party to further its good causes.

Samling, which supports some of the world’s best young singers, has also received the backing of one of Northumberland’s generous patrons of the arts, accountant Patricia Arnold.

Patricia, boss of Hexham-based Patricia J. Arnold & Co. Ltd, has donated seven original watercolours and a sculpture by members of the Society of Wildlife Artists (SWA) to be auctioned at Samling’s Party in the Garden on Sunday.

Last year she sponsored the SWA’s first residency in Northumberland and the works to be auctioned are some of those she received by way of thanks.

It’s a case of one successful arts initiative benefiting another. Patricia said: “I have known about Samling for some time and am very impressed by its work.

“It gives our young professional musicians the type of specialist support they need and means that we will see many of Northumberland’s young people on the world stage in the future.

“Through its outreach programme it also takes music into schools to inspire and nurture musicians from an early age.”

Samling was set up in 1996 when the first masterclasses for some of the world’s most promising young singers took place in the Lake District.

The charity, set up by businessman Roger McKechnie, subsequently relocated to Hexham from where it organises masterclasses, concerts and school singing projects.

As the years pass, the list of Samling Scholars – as the young singers are known – grows longer, appearing on ever more CVs and, indeed, on some increasingly distinguished CVs. Many Samling Scholars fulfil their potential, going on to sing in operas and give recitals in the world’s great concert halls.

The next Samling gathering will take place in November when half a dozen young singers and a pianist will gather for a week at the Farlam Hall Hotel, near Brampton, and then give a public masterclass followed by a showcase concert at The Sage Gateshead.

It will be led by distinguished soprano Joan Rodgers, piano accompanist Roger Vignoles and vocal coach Paul Farrington.

But by then the nights will have drawn in. This weekend sees a celebration of summer with the annual Samling Party in the Garden at Dilston House, near Corbridge, home of Roger and Eileen McKechnie.

There will be a barbecue and afternoon tea with performances by the Sunshine Panners steel band from Haydon Bridge, modern brass ensemble 5Play and ace fiddle player Peter Tickell. An art exhibition will feature the work of Michael Ewart, Julian Vilarrubi, Luella Martin, Sarah LeBrocq, Yvonne Sinclair, Becky Blair and Gavin Marshall.

There will also be children’s activities and the auction.

Tickets in advance are £18 per adults, £5 per child or £40 per family (£20, £6 and £45 respectively on the day). Tel. 01434 602885 or email enquiries@samling.org.uk for tickets or information.