Stagecoach

Sadly, Sue Capes Bunnett who has taught singing to Darlington PM Saturday school ever since it was formed 13 years ago, resigned her post at the end of last term to take up a part-time teaching post in a mainstream school in Middlesbrough. In Sue`s place, we are welcoming Natalie Glenister, starting  from September. Natalie is very well qualified, as you can see from her mini cv below. All the staff and students look forward to working with you Natalie.

Natalie studied piano and flute to grade 7/8 standard and LAMDA drama examinations including Gold Medal Verse and Prose. She studied her degree in Theatre, Performance and music at the University of Plymouth, followed by a Masters of Music at Goldsmiths College, London. Natalie has coached singing and acting at two other theatre schools, been an instrumental and singing teacher and the Head of Music at Great Ballard School in West Sussex before moving to Teesside. Natalie has worked with children with music and drama since the age of 16 and is also a qualified primary school teacher.

After a very stable time on the staff front we have had a little flurry of activity amongst the Singing staff which has led to a change of staff for several groups. 

Claire Willmer has therefore joined the Stagecoach staff as a Singing teacher since Caterina Rea left to pursue her professional Singing career at the end of last term. Claire has taken over from Cat in teaching the Yarm PM school and Further Stages on Sundays and has also taken over the Singing teacher`s job at the Wednesday Darlington Stagecoach School after the vacancy left by Nikki Lycett`s promotion to the Tees Valley Music Service and also the Friday Darlington  Stagecoach school, after Sue Capes-Bunnett left the post to spend more time with her family at the weekends.

Here is a little introduction to Claire:-

CLAIRE WILLMER

Claire started singing in a choir at about 15 years old and then took part in a mini tour in Germany as part of a small accapella vocal group. After attending some Generator ‘Pop Schools’ (aiming to introduce young people to music) she was granted a song writing mentorship in conjunction with Generator, sparking her interest further for song writing. (Memorably she sang one of her own songs for Tony Blair when only 16 years old!

Claire then went on to qualify in  BA (Hons) Performance at Northumbria University, moving on afterwards to do some work with Galaxy Radio. Across the last four years Claire has worked for Haven Holidays, being quickly promoted to assistant entertainment manager, as well as headlining as a singer and dancer in their shows around the UK. She became experienced with children`s groups of all ages in this role and is keen to pursue this further. Claire also now works as a professional singer on the N.E. club circuit.

Claire is a warm, enthusiastic person who is very happy to be joining us and I am sure that you will join with me in welcoming her to the Stagecoach family.

Singing Sue`s story about her battle with breast cancer and our efforts to raise money for Cancer Research UK has appeared in the Evening Gazette this week.  You can follow the story by clicking on the link below and reading it on the newspaper`s web site. There was a factual error in the piece. It says the total of money raised was over £2500 but it was in fact £2250, as shown in the receipt published on this website previously.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2010/04/12/stagecoach-singing-teacher-tells-of-breast-cancer-battle-84229-26215431/

Send us your snow pictures for the web site - snowmen, toboggans, digging out the drive, snow angels, snowball fights, pretty gardens, -arctic wolves! Anything snow related.

Here are George and Oliver laying down the gauntlet for the best snowman!

Sue Bunnett, our Singing teacher, got a surprise Christmas present from her husband of tickets to see “Billy Elliot” in the West End.  Consumed with excitement, Sue hit the capital and adored the show but still had time to pay Zoe a call backstage in her show “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”.  Sue got to see the costumes, wigs and props and even went up the gantry that Zoe has to climb to get into the harness that suspends her over the stage during shows. And here are some pics for you.