A HOST of stars from across the musical spectrum will join forces in a spectacular charity concert, Carols of Light, at Durham Cathedral next month.
Sir Thomas Allen, the famous operatic baritone, will be joined by other North East musicians including X Factor winner Joe McElderry, Northumbrian piper Kathryn Tickell and singer and keyboard player Alan Price.
The Futureheads, the Durham Cathedral Choristers and the Durham Cathedral Young Singers will also join the line-up along with the Monkwearmouth Salvation Army Band.
Performers from outside the region will include singer and award-winning actress Barbara Dickson, jazz singer Clare Teal and keyboards wizard Rick Wakeman.
The event, designed to be a celebration of the North East, is a fundraiser to benefit the SAFC Foundation, the charity of Sunderland football club, and the Durham Cathedral Music Endowment Fund.
It has been produced by Sir Tim Rice who has also lined up a distinguished list of speaking participants including the Bishop of Durham, sports stars Niall Quinn and Steve Cram, South Shields MP David Miliband, broadcaster Kate Adie and architect and broadcaster George Clarke. The concert is supported by principal sponsor Hargreaves Services plc and a host of others.
The SAFC Foundation helps 40,000 children every year and assists people in gaining skills and qualifications.
Durham Cathedral’s music outreach programme involves schools in Sunderland, South Tyneside and County Durham. Durham Cathedral Young Singers is its community choir for youngsters aged eight to 13.
To further its aim of contributing to the life of the North East and beyond, the cathedral is fundraising into an endowment fund held at County Durham Community Foundation. The fund will support its outreach work and help to provide bursaries for cathedral choristers.
Dawn Day, community fundraising coordinator for the SAFC Foundation, said: “The funds raised from this event will be input into projects that will provide opportunities for children, young people and families across the North East at a time when they have rarely needed it more.”
:: Carols of Light will take place on December 8. For tickets, at £15, call 0191 551 5004 or visit the Sunderland AFC ticket office at the Stadium of Light which is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, and Saturday, 10am to 1pm.