The Glasshouse

With an hour of irresistible choral music, and tantalising works for the organ, Greg Beardsell presents Choir and Organ live from the Free Thinking Festival at Sage Gateshead.

Once described as all killer, and no filler, the Durham based Northern Spirit Singerstravel to Gateshead to perform a selection of a cappella vocal sensations, to captivate the foyer and concourse audience, as well as listeners to Radio 3. Having won the title of Adult Choir of the Year in 2014, the Northern Spirit Singers have firmly established themselves as one of the country’s leading choirs, performing regularly on an international stage. Northern Spirit Singers was founded in September 2000 by graduates from Newcastle and Durham Universities and now draws upon students and singers from a range of professional backgrounds, including doctors, barristers, and a large proportion of the region’s music teachers.

BBC Radio 3 are also bringing another choir into the choral mix, the North East’s community choir for young adults, Collective Voices. This choir aims to help young people find their voice, and to experience the joy of singing. This experience of pleasure and delight will be central to the vocal items they’ll be performing live at Sage Gateshead.

Greg Beardsell, who presents this special edition of Choir and Organ, is Deputy Artistic Director of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain and works around the world as a conductor, presenter and music education advocate.