Musician Sting is helping school pupils across the region get into music.

He has given his backing to a new initiative which promotes music tuition and performance in schools across the North East and provides opportunities to youngsters wanting to get into the music industry.

Sting was born in Wallsend, North Tyneside, as Gordon Matthew Sumner in 1951. His mum Audrey was a hairdresser and dad Ernest was a milkman. He became interested in playing music during his teens, practising at the Buddle Arts Centre and recording at the Impulse Sound Studios in Wallsend.

And he has never forgotten his roots and realises the importance of youngsters being given opportunities in the music business. He is now lending his support to the Music Partnership North between Newcastle and Northumberland music services, Newcastle College and Sage Gateshead.

To launch the partnership, a song featuring hundreds of school children has been recorded and is set for release through Newcastle College’s student run record label, Push Puzzle Records.

Sting said: "From the first moment I picked up a guitar as a young boy in Wallsend, music has been the most important part of my life. Music Partnership North will give children across the North East the chance to discover a lifelong love of music.

"The region has a great creative atmosphere and legacy and as this song demonstrates, music is very much alive and an important part of people's lives."

The song 'Border to the River'’ features the voices and instruments of children from Walbottle Village Primary, Waverley Primary, Knoplaw Primary, St Georges Primary, Milecastle Primary, Throckley Primary, St Bede's First school, Bedlington, Cramlington Learning Village, Walker Central, Hadrian Special School, Hugh Joicey C of E First School, Berwick and The Northumbrian Ranters. The song was written and composed by Tom Bradley, operations manager at the College's Performance Academy and features the lead vocals of Foundation Degree Popular Music student, Gabrielle Irving.

The track also features the production skills and lead guitar of Newcastle College Lecturer, Brian Emerson, who recently returned from Hollywood where he won the coveted 'Best Blues Artist award' at the Artists in Music Awards with the Trevor Sewell Band.

Brian travelled down to the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London this week to master the track, which is set for release on March 17.

(c) Evening Chronicle