BIG TEST:
Music teacher Deborah Sumner is looking forward to her first solo
performance this Saturday.
AMATEUR operatic singer Deborah Sumner
will face her biggest test this weekend - and she's not worried at all.
The soprano will be the solo artist,
backed by a 60-strong symphony orchestra, at a concert at West Park Church
in Sunderland on Saturday.
The former Southmoor School pupil works
as a peripatetic music teacher in Sunderland schools and has appeared in
numerous shows produced by local amateur operatic societies.
But Saturday's concert, marking the
fourth anniversary of the City of Sunderland Millennium Orchestral Society
(CoSMOS), is her first performance with a full-size orchestra.
Deborah, 36, said: "It's the first time
I've sung with a full symphony orchestra. I'm not nervous at all - it will
be a wonderful experience.
"It will be a super concert and
everybody will enjoy it," said Deborah, who has just finished a week-long
run appearing in Camelot with the Durham Musical Theatre Company.
In Saturday's concert at the church,
which is opposite the Park Lane bus and Metro interchange, she will sing a
selection of arias including Mozart's Dove Sono and Porgi amore.
Musical director of the concert Rupert
Hanson, said: " It is an excellent opportunity for music to flourish in
the city and I am proud to be involved.
"Since the orchestra began four years
ago I have encouraged local talent and Deborah fits into this category.
"She won't have sung with a full
symphony orchestra before, although she has performed in local operatic
societies.
"It's all about raising standards and
developing music for all, taking music into places like Hendon and the
East End of Sunderland.
"We've given money to various charities
but we’re now trying to raise our own money so we can take music into the
community.
"There will also be an exhibition of art
by the Sunderland Art Club on view throughout the concert, to encourage
togetherness between the different societies."
The Sunderland Symphony Orchestra will
be led by David McCourt and the programme will include Williams' Star
Wars, Tchaikovsky's March Slav, the Nutcracker and 1812 Overture.
It starts at 7.30pm on Saturday and
tickets, cost £5, £8 and £10, and can be obtained by phoning 534 2413.
