Hexham-based singers Martha Cook and Rachel Bird have each won a place in the prestigious Samling Academy, and will receive coaching from a team of world-famous singers, pianists, actors, choreographers and teachers.

Following six days of intensive training in vocal technique, acting and stagecraft, choreography and language coaching, mezzo-sopranos Martha and Rachel will perform on stage at Sage Gateshead on Sunday, October 28 along with the other members of Samling Academy.

“When Martha sang for her audition last year, the entire panel was incredibly impressed,” said Samling’s founding artistic and executive director Karon Wright.

“The vocal maturity she displayed along with a deep understanding of the text—especially for someone so young was quite remarkable.”

Rachel Bird, who is currently studying music at Durham University, is in her fourth year of Samling Academy.

“Being part of Samling Academy has provided me with opportunities that I could not get anywhere else,” said Rachel.

“It has allowed me to develop my performance skills over the past few years. What Samling has to offer is unique and the chance to continue with such high quality training is the main reason I chose to study in the North-East.”

Now in its seventh year, Samling Academy, which was established in 2012 in a partnership with Newcastle and Durham Universities and Sage Gateshead, is developing a new generation of classical singers in the North-East through its unique training and performance model.

“Over the past 22 years we have, through our professional Samling Artist Programme, supported the artistic development of more than 300 of the finest international classical singers and pianists who now appear on the world’s greatest stages and concert platforms. This year alone, we have ten of our Samling Artists returning to us along with the Academy’s leadership team to teach the next generation here in the North-East,” said Karon.

“More than a quarter of our Academy Singers have now gone on to study music full-time in the UK’s most prestigious music colleges.”

Royal Opera House’s Caroline Dowdle will lead the music direction of this year’s academy, supported by vocal expert Patricia MacMahon with ten Samling artists.