MEMBERS of Teesdale’s youth folk band Cream Tees took to the main stage at the Sage Gateshead just days after receiving an award from the High Sheriff of County Durham.
Representatives from Music at the Heart of Teesdale (M@HoT), which runs Cream Tees, received the award from High Sheriff Caroline Peacock in recognition of the project team’s work with young people.
It was one of 12 awards presented by Mrs Peacock at Wynyard Hall.
This was followed with a performance by the older members of Cream Tees in hall one at the Sage Gateshead as part of the Durham Music Service Showcase.
Unfortunately, the weather put paid to a third major Cream Tees event -“a performance with Opera North’s youth ensembles at the Dolphin Centre, in Darlington, to mark the end of a year-long collaborative project.
Tamsin Diment, Durham Music Service instrumental teacher and Cream Tees co-leader for the Sage Gateshead performance, said the group have given a highly accomplished performance of their own composition, Rooted – a Teesdale Suite.
“Their enthusiasm and confidence meant they commanded the stage and totally engaged the audience,” she said.
“Having worked with the group, I have been so impressed by their inclusive attitude to rehearsing and they were a delight and privilege to work and perform with.”
Carolyn Norris, deputy head of the Durham Music Service, added: “They sounded amazing and it made such a nice contrast to have something different to any of our other ensembles.”
Cream Tees tutor Rupert Philbrick said it had been a late night travelling back from Gateshead to the dale in difficult conditions.
“It was well past midnight when some of the band members and their mums and dads were safely back home, so perhaps it was just as well that a Seasons of Love in Darlington had to be cancelled due to the appalling weather conditions on the day, even though we were sad at the time,” he added.
Neil Diment, M@HoT co-ordinator, said Cream Tees was always on the look-out for new members.
Anyone interested should contact Mr Diment on 01833 638263 or email neil@ndi ment.co.uk.
