Musical Director & Arranger for North East Tourism Awards Ceremony; The Sage Gateshead, 2013. 

This event was hosted by BBC’s Carol Malia, and featured a full 7 piece live band. The event was themed in a ‘show/hollywood’ glamour style, and the company wanted the music to portray this. For example we played pieces such as ‘Be Our Guest’ (Beauty And The Beast) in a comically over the top Broadway style/arrangement, for the ‘Best Bed & Breakfast’ award. The band were prepared to improvise at all times depending on any late/early queues, and any mishaps (such as announcers forgetting their glasses and not being able to read the winning category!) The comical musical arrangements went down great with the audience as well as the company. This was a very enjoyable project to work on.

Below shows photos of the band on the night, screenshots from BBC coverage, and stills from the MD camera used by the musicians:

Paul Szomoru

The band were FANTASTIC! A massive highlight of the evening. I had a picture in my head of how these awards were going to look and feel on the night, the whole thing pivoted around a quality live music accompaniment to the ceremony, providing a touch of class and Hollywood glamour. There was also the hygiene factors that a band can provide crowd control etc.. What was the unexpected bonus for me was the comedy elements you brought too! Just perfect!

Paul Szomoru, General Manager, NGI

Sarah Stewart

Just a very brief note to thank everyone in the band for providing such a magnificent musical accompaniment to last night’s awards ceremony. It was upbeat, quirky, humorous, playful – and certainly enjoyed by all. Totally appropriate to the evening. Well done to everyone involved. The best thing of all was that you all seemed to be enjoying yourselves at the same time, which was great. I hope that there will be opportunities for us to engage the band at future events and we’ll certainly be recommending you to others – as will I’m sure, many of those attending last night’s event.

Sarah Stewart, Chief Executive, NGI