Sting.com . What's New

Are you interested in a career as a professional musician? Then you should check out Newcastle College's BMus Course in jazz, popular and commercial music...

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:34 -0400

Newcastle College's B.Mus. programme is delivered at The Performance Academy, which is located on the main college campus in central Newcastle. Opened by Sting in Autumn 2004, The Performance Academy is a 'state-of-the-art' performing arts complex which provides a comprehensive range of purpose-built facilities. There are ten fully equipped ensemble rehearsal studios (soundproofed and air conditioned), three recording studio complexes (soundproofed and air conditioned), a Clavinona keyboard suite, music technology workstation suites (equipped with Apple Macintosh G5s), a professional music performance venue and theatre, TV/media studios, I.T. Centre and high-tech lecture theatres and teaching rooms.

Sting's long-time friend and former band mate Gerry Richardson is the Performance Studies Leader on the course and is part of a highly experienced team of programme staff responsible for hosting the course. The programme team is comprised of professional music practitioners who have established national profiles in the fields of jazz, popular and commercial music. Their experience in the music industry is 'cutting edge' and constantly informs the curriculum and the team has considerable experience in structuring and delivering JPC programmes, having led numerous initiatives in popular music education over a number of years. Also, with the opening of The Performance Academy in 2005, Newcastle College has an excellent accommodation and resource base for delivering such provision.

What will I study?

A combination of practical skills (instrumental lessons, band rehearsal and performance, recording and music technology), improvisation, composition, arranging, music business and academic studies.

Do I have the right profile for entry to this programme?

Applicants need to have a minimum of 160 UCAS points (e.g. two 'A' Levels at Grade C, or equivalent), a high standard of instrumental (or vocal) technique, knowledge of music theory, aural awareness and the ability to read music notation.

Why is the B.Mus. programme subtitled "jazz, popular and commercial" music? Does it focus on jazz?

The programme is designed to provide a broad base of performance skills in jazz, popular and commercial music. As the programme progresses through the three years, students may gradually develop specialisms in any of these areas.

What kind of employment is there for graduates of the programme?

An individual's employment profile usually evolves over time, typically including freelance performance, recording, broadcasting, composition, arranging, production, publishing, management and teaching.

For more detailed information CLICK HERE.

July 10 - a look back in time...

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:01 -0400

Sting is one of the busiest musicians around. Take a look back in time to see what he was doing and where he was performing on this day in previous years...

2007: The Police performed at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, USA. Read Review...

2004: Sting performed at the Post-Gazette Pavilion in Pittsburgh, USA. Read Review...

2001: Sting performed at the Earth Theatre in Thesalonika, Greece.

1996: Sting performed at Meadows Music Centre in Hartford, USA. Read Review...

1991: Sting performed at the Jaaihalle in Helsinki, Finland.

1988: Sting performed at Summerfest at Marcus Amphitheatre in Milwaukee, USA. Read Review...

Sting.com Messenger Bags to start shipping shortly to qualifying members...

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:33:25 -0400

As previously reported this year's premium item for club members is a Sting.com messenger bag. The bags have been manufactured and delivered and shipping is due to commence shortly in the following order: International orders, Canadian orders then US orders. The messenger bags will be issued to premium members who renewed between August 18, 2008 until August 17, 2009. We will let you know when shipping commences.

We cannot stress how important it is that every member check the details held in their account record to ensure that the information held there is correct. This information is be used to produce your shipping labels so please ensure you visit https://myaccount.sting.com/index.php?module=MyAccount&page=MyAccountAddress and check that the address fields are properly completed we can be sure your bag will be despatched correctly.

First Name - needed
Middle Initial - needed if you have one
Last Name - needed
Address 1 - i.e. 2025 High Street
Address 2 - i.e. 3rd Floor (please do not enter an alternative address!)
City - needed
State/Province - only complete this field if you live in the USA/Canada
Region - leave blank unless it's a required field in your own country's addressing protocol (i.e. Surrey, Wiltshire)
Zip/Postal - needed
Country - needed

Sting set to release new recording ''If On A Winter's Night''...

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:00:01 -0400

To be released October 26, 2009 on Deutsche Grammophon - (Germany: 23 October, USA: 27 October, UK: 2 November)

This fall, Sting will release a new album dedicated to his favorite season - Winter - a season which has inspired countless songwriters over the centuries and produced a wealth of music exploring all of its many guises. If On a Winter's Night... presents an arc of songs that conjures the season of spirits, resulting in a haunting, spiritual and reflective musical journey.

"The theme of winter is rich in inspiration and material," comments Sting; "by filtering all of these disparate styles into one album I hope we have created something refreshing and new." He continues, "Our ancestors celebrated the paradox of light at the heart of the darkness, and the consequent miracle of rebirth and the regeneration of the seasons."

In collaboration with esteemed producer and arranger, Robert Sadin, "If On a Winter's Night..." features traditional music of the British Isles as its starting point. Sting and guest musicians interpret a stirring collection of songs, carols, and lullabies including The Snow it Melts the Soonest (traditional Newcastle ballad), Soul Cake (traditional English "begging" song) Gabriel's Message (14th century carol), Balulalow (lullaby by Peter Warlock) and Now Winter Comes Slowly (Henry Purcell).

Two of Sting's own compositions are also featured on the album, Lullaby for an Anxious Child and The Hounds of Winter, which originally appeared on his previous release Mercury Falling, alongside Hurdy Gurdy Man, - a musical reworking and English translation (by Sting) of Der Leiermann from Schubert's classic winter song-cycle Winterreise.

For this exploration of the themes and emotions of Winter, Sting is joined by friend and long time colleague, guitarist Dominic Miller. Additional guests include an ensemble of three remarkable musicians from Northern England and Scotland: Kathryn Tickell (fiddle and Northumbrian pipes) Julian Sutton (melodeon) and Mary MacMaster (metal string Scottish harp), along with Daniel Hope (violin), Vincent Ségal (cello), Chris Botti and Ibrahim Maalouf, (trumpet), Cyro Baptista and Bijan Chemirani (percussion), the Webb Sisters (vocals) and Stile Antico (vocal ensemble).

The Sage Gateshead is Five! - Kathryn Tickell and Sting to help celebrate the Sage's Fifth Birthday - Tickets on sale today...

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:36 -0400

The Sage Gateshead celebrates its Fifth Birthday this year and joining the party are Spiritualized, Northern Sinfonia, Kathryn Tickell with very special guest Sting, Evelyn Glennie and many more... Including YOU!

It's hard to believe with the hundreds of thousands of music making sessions that have taken place both in The Sage Gateshead and around the Northeast, and with almost 2,000 performances to date, that this internationally renowned home for music and musical discovery is only 5 years old!

To celebrate, The Sage Gateshead is holding a weekend of music from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th December with tickets for the Kathryn Tickell/Sting event set to go on sale via the Sage on 1 July.

The programme - as planned to date - includes:

Kathryn Tickell: Northumbrian piper and winner of the Queen's Medal for Music, Kathryn Tickell, is joined by friends including international recording artist Sting who, as a solo musician and member of 'The Police', has sold over 100 million records and received sixteen Grammy Awards and an Oscar nomination for his work.

Dame Evelyn Glennie plays with Northern Sinfonia, orchestra of The Sage Gateshead, in a concert featuring James Macmillan's 'Veni Veni Emanuel', John Taverner's 'The Lamb' and Britten's 'St Nicholas' featuring The Sage Gateshead's vocal regional youth ensemble, Quay Voices - on sale NOW!

classic indie-rock band Spiritualized, with orchestra, chorus and special guests, perform their award winning album 'Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space', which received massive critical acclaim winning NME's album of the year in 1997 (beating Radiohead's OK Computer), and reaching No.4 in the charts - on sale NOW!

Thomas Zehetmair, Music Director of Northern Sinfonia, brings his Zehetmair Quartet performing one of the best loved of Beethoven's quartets seminal British jazz saxophonist Andy Sheppard responds to the Fifth Birthday by creating an event inspired by the number five; a handpicked quintet perform a five-set concert, capitalising on the flexibility of the pentagonal Hall Two - on sale NOW! workshops and many more opportunities for people to make music themselves.

Further details, including on sale dates for the above events, to be announced in the media or visit www.thesagegateshead.org.

Sting comments: "I'm delighted that the region where I grew up is now home to such a successful and vibrant music centre. The wonderful surroundings of The Sage Gateshead provide an opportunity for musicians and music lovers alike to experience and participate in live music and music making. I look forward to finally performing there later this year."

Kathryn Tickell (who will be storming ahead in her new role as Artistic Director of Folkworks in December) comments; "I'm delighted to be able to celebrate the success of The Sage Gateshead's first 5 years with a special Birthday concert and can't wait to welcome Sting onto stage to perform at The Sage Gateshead for the first time."

Anthony Sargent, General Director, The Sage Gateshead comments; "Above all the awards and international recognition The Sage Gateshead has won in these first five teeming years, more rewarding still is the way it has so quickly been taken to the heart of our local community. It was our local community who unforgettably opened The Sage Gateshead that frosty December night in 2004, and we've designed this celebratory weekend, with its wonderful line-up of exceptional musicians, particularly with our local communities, audiences and learners in mind. The Sage Gateshead is their centre, and this is their 5th birthday party just as much as it marks the coming of age of Britain's most exciting new music centre."

Cllr Mick Henry, Leader of Gateshead Council said; "In just five years, The Sage Gateshead has become part of the physical and cultural landscape of Gateshead Quayside and indeed of the whole North East region. I think the real proof of this success is that it's now impossible to think of the Gateshead skyline without this fabulous building. There's a fantastic programme of events planned to celebrate this important anniversary which will excite the residents of Gateshead and the many visitors from outside the area."

Mark Robinson, Executive Director, Arts Council England, North East said; "The Arts Council England, North East is delighted with the ongoing success of The Sage Gateshead. We are proud of our investment in this world-class music venue which has pioneered innovative approaches to learning and participation as well as providing a fitting home for orchestra of The Sage Gateshead, Northern Sinfonia, and bringing internationally renowned musicians to the region. The range of facilities available at The Sage Gateshead gives thousands of opportunities for participation in music to all manner of people from across and outside of the region."

History:

The Sage Gateshead opened at 5pm on Friday 17th December 2004 to crowds of Northeast people waiting to catch a glimpse inside the stunning Norman Foster building and experience this much talked about inclusive musical party; 15,000 people in total over a weekend full of live performance and participatory events were able to say that they were part of the opening of The Sage Gateshead.

Twin Spirits set for DVD release on October 1...

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:19:02 -0400

Twin Spirits is a unique and intimate, live theatrical performance by a chamber ensemble of actors, singers and musicians, portraying the deep and ultimately tragic love between the composer Robert Schumann and his pianist wife Clara Wieck. In this intensely moving performance of words, song and music, the Schumanns' long separation, so formative an influence on their lives, is reflected in the division of the ensemble into male and female groups.

Robert's letters to Clara are read by Sting and his songs sung by Simon Keenlyside, with accompaniments and instrumental music played by Iain Burnside and Sergej Krylov. Clara's letters to Robert are read by Trudie Styler and her songs sung by Rebecca Evans, with accompaniments and instrumental music played by Natalie Clein and Natasha Paremski.

The narrator, Derek Jacobi, links together the letters and lyrics to complete the essential outline of the story. Conceived and directed by John Caird, Twin Spirits was first performed in June 2005 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London and has since been experienced only at private performances for charity by small audiences of all ages and interests, leaving them deeply touched and inspired.

Robert Schumann (in words) STING
Robert Schumann (in song) SIMON KEENLYSIDE
Violin SERGEJ KRYLOV
Piano IAIN BURNSIDE

Clara Wieck (in words) TRUDIE STYLER
Clara Wieck (in song) REBECCA EVANS
Cello NATALIE CLEIN
Piano NATASHA PAREMSKI

Narrator DEREK JACOBI

Devised and directed for the stage by JOHN CAIRD

Recorded at the Royal Opera House, London, December 2007.

For more information visit www.twin-spirits.com.

The Musical Brain, featuring Sting, Wyclef Jean, Michael Bublé and Feist to be broadcast in the UK, June 23...

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:02 -0400

CTV Original Documentary THE MUSICAL BRAIN Explores How Music Tunes the Mind - National Geographic channel, 9pm UK time, June23 ...

- One-hour documentary features critically-acclaimed musicians Sting, Wyclef Jean, Michael Bublé and Feist

- Musical icon Sting undergoes an MRI to help study the influence of music on his brain

The power of music and its effect on the human mind is a fascinating topic for neuroscientists exploring the gateway to the mysteries of the brain. But can science explain everything there is to know about music? THE MUSICAL BRAIN is a new one-hour original CTV documentary that illuminates how the brain uses music to shape the human experience. Featuring insights from Grammy® Award-winning musicians Sting and, Wyclef Jean; Grammy and JUNO Award-winner Michael Bublé; and seven-time JUNO Award-winner Feist, this riveting documentary reveals how music is interpreted by those who create it and those who listen to it.

Using the research findings of leading medical experts, including Dr. Daniel Levitin (This is Your Brain on Music), the documentary examines the physical, psychological and emotional responses to music through a variety of tests on children and adults. THE MUSICAL BRAIN also features candid interviews with Michael Bublé, Feist, Wyclef Jean and Sting who share what they have learned about the power of music in their lives.

In addition to discussing his passion for music, Sting puts his own musical mind to the test when he enters an fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machine to have his brain scanned. Inspired by Dr. Daniel Levitin's book, Sting undergoes tests to find out how music affects him on a physical and emotional level. Using state-of-the-art technology, THE MUSICAL BRAIN demonstrates how Sting responds to various types of music - complex and simple - and what his musical brain reveals about him.

"Music is a gateway to emotion and memory, pleasure and intellectual stimulation throughout our lives," says writer and director Christina Pochmursky. "THE MUSICAL BRAIN follows Sting on his journey of discovery into his own musical brain, and also explores how music can define each stage of our lives."

"This riveting documentary sheds light on the human musical experience and how science is teaching us more about it," says Bob Culbert, Vice-President of CTV Documentaries. "The stories shared by the participating artists will resonate with viewers who understand the power of music in their own lives."

THE MUSICAL BRAIN was created by writer/director Christina Pochmursky and producer Vanessa Dylyn for Matter of Fact Media in association with CTV and National Geographic Channels International, with the financial participation of The Bell Benefits Fund, The Rogers Documentary Fund, and Canadian tax credit programs. Bob Culbert is Vice-President of CTV Documentaries. Robert Hurst is President of CTV News and Current Affairs. Susanne Boyce is President, Content, Creative and Channels, CTV Inc.

About Matter of Fact Media:
Matter of Fact Media is a Toronto-based production company specializing in HD documentary and factual programming. Launched in 2006 by producer Vanessa Dylyn and Christina Pochmursky, the former Commissioning Editor of The Documentary Channel, they are responsible for an impressive slate of documentaries and series that have aired on PBS, Discovery Channel, History Channel and Canal+ in Europe, CBC and upcoming films for CTV and National Geographic Channel.

About CTV
CTV, Canada's largest private broadcaster, offers a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming. It has the number-one national newscast, CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH LLOYD ROBERTSON, and is the number-one choice for prime-time viewing. CTVglobemedia Inc. is Canada's premier multi-media company which owns CTV Inc. and The Globe and Mail. CTV Inc. also owns radio stations across the country, and leading national specialty channels. Other CTVglobemedia investments include an interest in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and in Dome Productions, a North American leader in the provision of mobile high definition production facilities. More information about CTV may be found on the company website at www.ctv.ca.

Forthcoming TV & Radio Listings...

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:08 -0400

Sting or The Police are featured in the following forthcoming shows... Also listed are other shows or films that may be of interest to members. All times are Eastern Time unless specified.Please use this listing as a guide only for timings and check your LOCAL TV listings to avoid disappointment. These listings do not pretend to be complete, so if you hear of any TV or Radio shows being broadcast in your country that are not mentioned here be sure to let us know. If you have any information about an upcoming show, even if it is in your own language, please email details to us at at daveandwendy@sting.com so we can include it here.

June 23
National Geographic | 9pm (UK) | 'The Musical Brain' (UK)
In addition to discussing his passion for music, Sting puts his own musical mind to the test when he enters an fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machine to have his brain scanned. Inspired by Dr. Daniel Levitin's book, Sting undergoes tests to find out how music affects him on a physical and emotional level. Using state-of-the-art technology, The Musical Brain demonstrates how Sting responds to various types of music - complex and simple - and what his musical brain reveals about him...

June 25
Sky Movies Modern Greats | 3.20am (UK) | 'Quadrophenia' (UK)
Seminal cult film about tough working-class lad Jimmy (Phil Daniels), who escapes the boredom of his everyday life by hanging out with the snappily-dressed mods, riding scooters, popping pills, and fighting the hated rockers on the beaches of Brighton. Adapted from The Who's acclaimed album, with stunning performances from a relatively inexperienced cast. Sting stars as the Ace Face.

June 27
Five | 3.40pm (UK) | 'Dune' (UK)
Sting plays animalistic Feyd-Rautha in David's Lynch's 1984 adaptation of Frank Herbert's multi-million selling epic sci-fi novel. The year is 10,191; forces from around the universe are vying for control of the spice melange - a substance shrouded in mystery - which extends life, expands consciousness, allows for convenient inter-galactic travel and exists only on the planet Arrakis (aka Dune). Sting's performance can be condensed into two words - flying underpants. The memorable scene in which Feyd emerges from slumber, clad only in his signature inter-galactic briefs is a Calvin Klein moment straight from the future.

June 27
3e | 11.15pm (UK) | 'Plenty' (UK)
Susan Traherne has been irreparably changed by her wartime experiences as a Resistance fighter. She sets out in the post-war world to make her way to what she wants, no matter who is hurt, or how. Stars Meryl Streep, John Gielgud and Sting.

July 11
Sky Movies Modern Greats | 2am (UK) | 'Quadrophenia' (UK)
Seminal cult film about tough working-class lad Jimmy (Phil Daniels), who escapes the boredom of his everyday life by hanging out with the snappily-dressed mods, riding scooters, popping pills, and fighting the hated rockers on the beaches of Brighton. Adapted from The Who's acclaimed album, with stunning performances from a relatively inexperienced cast. Sting stars as the Ace Face.

July 16
Sky Arts 1 | 00.55am + 12pm + 3pm (UK) | 'The Montreux Years' (UK)
Sky Arts presents some of the top highlights from the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival, featuring performances from Sting, The Strokes, Iggy Pop and Deep Purple.

July 21
Sky Movies Modern Greats | 00.05am (UK) | 'Quadrophenia' (UK)
Seminal cult film about tough working-class lad Jimmy (Phil Daniels), who escapes the boredom of his everyday life by hanging out with the snappily-dressed mods, riding scooters, popping pills, and fighting the hated rockers on the beaches of Brighton. Adapted from The Who's acclaimed album, with stunning performances from a relatively inexperienced cast. Sting stars as the Ace Face.

Sting's Cherrytree Records session...

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:01:04 -0400

Sting recently recorded several songs at the Cherrytree House for Cherrytree Records. You can check out a performance of 'Fragile' and a background video of Sting's visit to the Cherrytree House now at www.cherrytreerecords.com/ with a third video of 'Message In A Bottle' to come on Monday, June 8.

Remember that you can check out Cherrytree Radio's awesome brand of eclectic tunes at www.cherrytreerecords.com/radio/ (or simply click on the link on Sting's home page so that you can listen whilst browsing the web!)

Québec City Summer Festival - Ticket Update...

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:01:33 -0400

As previously announced Sting will be performing at the Québec City Summer Festival in Canada on Saturday, July 18.

Access to the festival - all 11 days of shows - costs just $45 ($35 if booked at the special advance price). The tickets can be purchased between June 18-July 19 at the 37 Metro supermarkets in the greater Quebec City.

Badges will also be available at all Hydro-Quebec booths on all the Festival sites for the duration of the Festival.

Please note that on-line ticket purchases for the festival are not available.

We are still working with the festival organisers in the hope of securing some tickets for members but we do not yet know if we will be successful so our best advice at this time is to assume we may not get tickets and those wishing to attend the show may need to make their own arrangements to secure tickets. We will keep you informed of any progress we make.

Music lesson plea by star Sting...

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:06:13 -0400

Music lesson plea by star Sting...

Perhaps the plea was not too surprising from Sting, the former teacher who became one of the biggest rock stars the UK has produced.

But no-one in the audience at the Hay festival doubted the passion in his voice when he warned against scaling down music lessons for children.

The singer and bassist made The Police the world's biggest band in the 1980s and recently led them on a money-spinning global reunion tour.

But he has spent much of his career experimenting with everything from jazz to classical to medieval music, and drew his loudest applause of the night when he was asked how to help the young appreciate all kinds of sounds.

"We should stop cutting music programmes in schools," was the immediate reply.

"It's vitally important that our kids are exposed to music: give them the opportunity to play instruments."

Sting, who left the classroom in the mid-1970s to become a full-time musician, recalled how his favourite lessons involved borrowing as many instruments as he could - "guitars, banjos... nose flutes! And let the kids mess around".

He warned that while the country did not produce much any more, "we do make art and music".

It's still a mystery to me, the whole idea of how you write songs, and I've been doing it all my life.

Sting was at the literary festival in Powys with his wife, the actress and producer Trudie Styler, to discuss True Sprits, a play they performed on Broadway as an Aids beneft about the 19th Century German composer Robert Schumann and his wife Clara. The couple were accompanied by the Welsh soprano Rebecca Evans, who performs as Clara on stage.

The Schumanns' story ended tragically, with Robert confined to a mental institution at the end of his life. Sting said he would not reprise a role which was "too sad, too heartbreaking".

But despite his problems Schumann was highly productive, and in 1840 alone wrote about 100 songs. Sting admitted: "It's taken me 30 years to write 100 songs, so I'm kind of jealous".

The composer of some of the biggest hits of the past three decades, from Every Breath You Take to Message in a Bottle and Englishman in New York, also confessed that he could not explain the art of his songwriting.

"It's still a mystery to me, the whole idea of how you write songs, and I've been doing it all my life".

Pressed to say whether he wrote songs for his wife, he said: "Of course I do." But he dismissed as banal "I love you, you love me songs", whereas "I love you, you love somebody else, is more interesting".

Celebrity watchers will have been intrigued by small glimpses into the life of a power couple. Asked how they kept in touch when their busy lives keep them separated, Sting joked: "Well, we don't Twitter".

Neither is he good on the phone, with a technique which amounts to: "Hi, how are you? Me too, bye..." Mercifully, no-one in the audience suggested they try a message in a bottle.

But Ms Styler described her husband as a prolific e-mailer. He added: "I do good love letters, I'm very happy to say". Which means he treats e-mails like formal letters, starting with "Dear..."

Judging by their schedules, there will be more of those.

Ms Styler's next project is as producer of a film called Moon, directed by Duncan Jones, David Bowie's son, and Sting, is working on a new album of songs about winter, which he called "a dark record: it's not about chestnuts roasting by an open fire".

But it seems unlikely he will be sending too many e-mails from Championship football grounds next season. Sting, born Gordon Sumner in Wallsend, Tyneside, 58 years ago, was asked how he felt about the relegation from the Premiership of his team, Newcastle United.

"It's a soap opera and has been for a couple of years, and will continue to be in the Championship or whatever it's called," he said.

"It'll be interesting to see the Toon Army (Newcastle's followers) at Doncaster or wherever. I'm still a fan - sad but true."

© BBC News by Nick Horton

Toronto Sun: Sting, Sheryl Crow team for charity...

Fri, 22 May 2009 05:54:36 -0400

It took a while for One Night Live to come to life at the Air Canada Centre Thursday night, but eventually it got there thanks to Sting and Sheryl Crow.

The benefit concert, now in its second year and assisting the Women and Babies Program at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, featured Sting, Crow and the Canadian Tenors in this "once in a lifetime concert experience" which ended up raising over two million.

And while there were hoots and hollers for host Chris Noth (Law & Order, Sex And The City), Sting's 90-minute set of hits had a large share of the near-capacity crowd loosening up.

With a seasoned three-piece cast of musicians behind him, Sting weaved a decent mixture of material from his own albums alongside those from The Police starting with 'Message In A Bottle' with the audience up and dancing in the front.

Mentioning how the charity contained two of his favorite things in women and babies, the 57-year-old singer kept the flow with the groovier '(Prologue) If I Ever Lose My Faith' In You from 1993's 'Ten Summoner's Tales' album. It's an album he would return to a few more times with the lighter, thoughtful 'Fields Of Gold' and 'Shape Of My Heart', both featuring some nifty guitar work from Dominic Miller.

Content to play his bass and occasionally venture into his jazzier side, Sting was at his best when The Police signatures came to the fore, especially 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic', the reggae-saturated 'Walking On The Moon' and 'Synchronicity II' with Sting belting out the lines as he did back in 1983.

Perhaps the only real miss, aside from the Middle Eastern-inspired dance-infused 'Desert Rose' was the pedestrian pace of 'Seven Days' which seemed to fall off the rails quickly. Yet he finished strong with some great musicianship and chemistry on 'Roxanne' and 'Every Breath You Take'.

Not to be outdone despite playing roughly half as long, Sheryl Crow strung together a strong series of her earlier, Stones-y hits such as 'My Favorite Mistake' and 'If It Makes You Happy' with guitarist Pete Stroud fleshing each country-rock nugget out.

Crow, who mentioned she was Michael Jackson's backup singer at one time, also worked in a bit of the Jimmy Cliff tune 'I Can See Clearly Now' into 'Can't Cry Anymore'. But following 'Strong Enough', which had her considering looking around Canada for a new man after "tapping out" the men Stateside, Crow and crew delivered the party-flavoured 'All I Wanna Do' which ended up energizing the crowd.

From there the five-piece thankfully avoided 'Steve McQueen' and 'There Goes The Neighborhood', opting for the summery 'Soak Up The Sun' and 'Everyday Is A Winding Road' as Crow, sans guitar, strutted her stuff somewhat.

The Canadian Tenors, or Il Canucko as they could be dubbed, opened with 30 minutes of opera/pop material, covering Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' and 'Because We Believe' while mentioning how they met Sarah McLachlan backstage. The quartet can certainly sing, but any longer might have been trying to most in attendance.

© The Toronto Sun by Jason Macneil

Sting, Sheryl Crow and The Canadian Tenors to perform at Sunnybrook's One Night Live™, May 21 - Tickets still available!

Thu, 21 May 2009 01:00:01 -0400

Chris Noth hosts concert benefiting the Women & Babies Program.

Sunnybrook Foundation are delighted to announce that international recording artists Sting, Sheryl Crow and The Canadian Tenors will perform at One Night Live™, presented by Sun Life Financial, on Thursday, May 21. Now in its second year, the concert will be held at the Air Canada Centre, and hosted by Sex and the City's "Mr. Big", Chris Noth.

"We are thrilled that such mega star talent have thrown their support behind Sunnybrook's Women & Babies Program," said Kevin Goldthorp, Chief Executive Officer of Sunnybrook Foundation. "All of the proceeds raised by the concert will assist in building a new state-of-the-art home for our Women & Babies Program and help Sunnybrook continue to provide the very best care for our smallest patients and their mothers, when it matters most."

Tickets for One Night Live™ are now on sale and start at and can be purchased online at www.onenightlive.ca or through www.ticketmaster.ca/onenightlive. The money raised will support the construction of the province's most advanced facility for births and high-risk pregnancies. The critical care unit for premature babies, which cares for more of Ontario's most vulnerable babies than any other hospital, will be five times larger than the current facility.

About Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is inventing the future of health care for the one million patients the hospital cares for each year through the dedication of its more than 10,000 staff and volunteers. Internationally recognized leadership in research and education and a full affiliation with the University of Toronto distinguish Sunnybrook as one of Canada's premier academic health sciences centres. Sunnybrook specializes in caring for Canada's war veterans, high-risk pregnancies, critically-ill newborns, adults and the elderly, and treating and preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, orthopaedic and arthritic conditions and traumatic injuries.

Sting performs classic tunes with Chicago Symphony Orchestra at fundraising show...

Tue, 19 May 2009 22:51:55 -0400

Tonight, May 19, Sting joined members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at its annual Corporate Night for their fundraising efforts in providing vital support for CSO programs and audience development initiatives. Earlier Sting said "I look forward to performing with the world-class musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in celebration and support of such an important cultural icon. Collaborating with artists of this calibre and sharing the experience with so many music students is incredibly inspiring."

The full set list for which Sting was also joined by Dominic Miller, David Sancious, Christian McBride and Vinnie Colaiuta was:

Overture to Candide
Sister Moon
If I Ever Lose My Faith In You
Fields Of Gold
Englishman In New York
A Thousand Years
My One And Only Love
Consider Me Gone
Russians
Lullaby To An Anxious Child
Fortress Around Your Heart
Moon Over Bourbon Street
Mad About You
Desert Rose
Every Breath You Take
Fragile

Sting and Sheryl's love-in...

Tue, 19 May 2009 10:35:40 -0400

The first time Sheryl Crow was introduced to Sting in the late 1980s, she was an unknown musician singing backup for the king of pop, Michael Jackson.

Now she's a big name in her own right. And on Thursday, Crow and Sting - who have 25 Grammy Awards between them and have since become great friends - are teaming up as the star entertainers (along with the Canadian Tenors) at this year's One Night Live benefit for Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, raising funds for the hospital's Women & Babies Program.

In a conference call from her farm in Nashville and Sting's apartment in New York, the pair - who are both active in political/human-rights/environmental causes - say committing to headline the Toronto event was important, especially since both are parents. Sting has six kids, and Crow has an adopted two-year old son, named Wyatt. Both freely admit that the secret of successful parenting is a puzzle they are still trying to figure out. They just give it their best shot.

Did you sign up immediately when Sunnybrook placed the call?

Sting: I did it because Sheryl was doing it.

Crow: And I did it because Sting was doing it.

Sting: They called me four or five months ago, and it seemed like a no-brainer. My kids aren't babies any more, but they're a huge part of my life.

Crow: My son is the most important person in mine. I love it when there's a charitable component. Plus, I get to see Sting play, and I'm a huge fan. And be part of something that is doing good work.

Sting, you've been around the parenting block six times - any words of wisdom to pass on to Sheryl?

Sting: Well, I haven't had a baby for a while. ...My eldest is 32 - I was only 10 when I had him [he jokes]. And my youngest is 13; three girls and three boys. I've found it's easier to bring up girls. The girls adore me. The boys want to get rid of me.

The 13-year-old has plans and I'm just in the way, you know?

I met Sheryl's little boy last year in Tokyo. He's a star. He's going to be a spiritual leader or something. His mother just won't allow him to go into politics. Truly, he's amazing and she's great with him.

Sheryl, you were active for the Democrats in the last U.S. election. Sting, you're big on human-rights causes. What are your views about Barack Obama's impact on the United States' tarnished record on human rights?

Sheryl: I think I can reiterate what most people are feeling - and that's a feeling of optimism. We have a hard road ahead of us, but in the first 100 days, he's really tried to tackle all the problems he was handed. He also represents to me a stillness we haven't seen in any of our leaders for a long, long time. A sense of consciousness that I don't think we've seen in any of our recent presidents, if ever.

Sting: I met him and Michelle on Saturday night at the White House Correspondents' Ball. He has an amazing charisma. He can think and speak at the same time. I think Americans have had this terrible sense of misrepresentation for the past eight years. I love America, and I want to see Americans proud of their country. It's a huge step in the right direction.

Are the two of you going to have a chance to rehearse before Thursday's event? And will you perform Sheryl's single 'Always on Your Side' together?

Sheryl: I have a gig in Chicago two days before, so I don't think we're going to have much time to rehearse. But I always feel at home in Toronto so I'm not worried. I've been there a lot.

Sting: I've got a gig [tonight] with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra... so I haven't had much time to think about [it] either. I'm blushing here, though, I have to say, because I'm a little bit terrified about playing with the CSO. ...I'm singing and half of my material will be orchestrated for the greatest orchestra in the world.

Sheryl: As for whether we'll be singing 'Always on Your Side' - it would be nice to do that. We'll talk about that. I loved this song when I wrote it. And when it came out on my album, I thought it should have had more attention than it had. When we looked at it again, we realized it needed a male counterpart. The first person who came to mind was Sting. He and I have known each other a long time. I met him when I was a back-up singer in 1989 for Michael Jackson. I've always been impressed with him. He's an immensely talented, great guy. Yup, that song might be perfect for that particular evening.

Sting: I'm blushing again. [Sheryl's] not only a great back-up singer, but a great musician. I was so thrilled she became a star.

© Globe and Mail by Gayle Macdonald

Tickets for 'One Night Live" are available from www.onenightlive.ca or through www.ticketmaster.ca/onenightlive.

Sting joins the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 20th Anniversary Celebration of Corporate Night on Tuesday, May 19...

Mon, 18 May 2009 00:48:52 -0400

Sting, 16-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist, bassist and former lead singer of The Police, joins members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for its annual Corporate Night celebration on Tuesday, May 19, at 7:30 p.m. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the CSO's Corporate Night - a private, corporate event - is one of the largest fundraising events hosted by the CSO. Proceeds from this benefit provide vital support for CSO programs and audience development initiatives. In addition to concert and dinner packages for members of the business community, and in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Corporate Night, the CSO will host a special public auction on eBay, beginning on May 4. The winner of the auction will receive two tickets to the concert, a one-night stay at the Four Seasons Hotel (Chicago), dinner for two at Tru restaurant and an autographed program book.

The CSO is proud to announce that, for the seventh consecutive year, Corporate Night will honor Chicago-area music students and educators. The gallery of Orchestra Hall will be filled with some 200 young musicians and their teachers, who have been invited to attend free of charge thanks to the generosity of Gallery Sponsors Deloitte, Sidley Austin LLP, Winston & Strawn LLP, Bank of America, and BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois.

"Providing an opportunity for Chicago's corporate community to gather in support of one of this city's vital cultural institutions is so very important," said David B. Speer, chairman and chief executive officer of Illinois Tool Works Inc. and chair of the CSO Corporate Committee for Corporate Night. "It is such a privilege to be chairing this landmark event, one that not only highlights members of the remarkable Chicago Symphony Orchestra, but welcomes an incomparable artist such as Sting to Symphony Center."

"We are so thrilled to be presenting such a remarkable event in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Corporate Night," said Annette Dezelan, Corporate Night chair. "To have such a show of support from the corporate community reminds us all that Chicago is a city of immense civic pride and, that as a community, we are coming together to recognize the important impact of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on the cultural life of Chicago."

"I look forward to performing with the world-class musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in celebration and support of such an important cultural icon," remarks Sting. "Collaborating with artists of this caliber and sharing the experience with so many music students is incredibly inspiring."

Sting, born and raised in Newcastle, England, was a teacher, soccer coach and ditchdigger before turning to music. He took up the bass guitar and performed in jazz gigs with local outfits including The Newcastle Big Band, The Phoenix Jazzmen, Earthrise and Last Exit. Inspired equally by jazz and the Beatles, he met Stewart Copeland, an American drummer, and they, along with guitarist Andy Summers, formed The Police in 1977.

The band became globally popular in the early 1980s, playing a style of rock that was influenced by jazz, punk and reggae music. Their 1983 album "Synchronicity," which features the monster single "Every Breath You Take," was number one in the U.K. and the U.S. and has sold over 8 million copies in the United States. The Police disbanded in 1984 but reunited in early 2007 for a one-off world tour, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of their first single, "Fall Out."

Sting's solo career has proven equally successful. With the release of "Dream of the Blue Turtles" in 1985, followed by "Bring On The Night," "Nothing Like The Sun," "The Soul Cages," "Ten Summoner's Tales," "Mercury Falling," "Brand New Day," "All This Time" and "Sacred Love," Sting has evolved into one of the world's most distinctive and highly respected performers, collecting an additional 11 Grammy awards as a solo artist. In October 2006, he turned his attentions to a long-standing interest in the work of acclaimed Elizabethan songwriter John Dowland with the release of "Songs from the Labyrinth," an album featuring virtuoso Bosnian lutenist Edin Karamazov, which debuted at the top of the classical charts in the U.S., U.K., France, Canada and Germany.

For members of the business community who have purchased concert and dining packages, the Corporate Night celebration begins at Symphony Center with cocktails at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Prices for event packages start at ,000 and include the opportunity to purchase additional tickets starting at 0; packages can be purchased by calling (312) 294-3175. Corporate Night is chaired this year by Annette Dezelan of The Women's Association of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and David B. Speer, chairman and chief executive officer of Illinois Tool Works Inc. All proceeds from Corporate Night benefit CSO programs and audience development initiatives.

Corporate Night 2009 is a project of The Women's Association of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Sting's performance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is made possible through the support of Anne and Ken Griffin. Other sponsors include: National City Bank (CSO Sponsor) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Dinner Sponsor); Ernst & Young LLP (Conductor Sponsor); Exelon Corporation (Gift Sponsor); Northern Trust (Innovation Sponsor); Bentley Gold Coast (Automotive Sponsor); Kirkland & Ellis LLP (Program Book Sponsor); BP (Lighting Sponsor); Motorola (Producing Sponsor); United Airlines (Producing Sponsor and Official Airline of the CSO); Performance Trust Companies (Producing Sponsor); and Jackson Wine Estates International (Official Wine of the CSO).

Complete event information follows:

Tuesday, May 19 7.30pm
CORPORATE NIGHT 2009

Members of the CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
STING, Vocals
Dominic Miller, Guitar
David Sancious, Keyboards
Vinnie Colaiuta, Drums
Christian McBride, Bass
Dave Hartley, Conductor

Program to be announced.

Corporate ticket packages include: 5 p.m. cocktails and 6 p.m. dinner.

For more information and to make reservations for concert and dining packages, please call (312) 294-3175 or visit www.cso.org/corporatenight.

Narada Michael Walden Foundation Presents Let the Sunshine In Concert at Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, May 25...

Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:09 -0400

Benefiting Christopher Rodriguez and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Sting, Bob Weir, Narada Michael Walden, Maestro Michael Morgan, The Supremes' Mary Wilson, The Fifth Dimension's Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., David Grisman, Earl Klugh and others will perform at Davies Symphony Hall in support of the 11-year-old Oakland boy

What: Music industry extraordinaire and Marin County resident Narada Michael Walden has rallied his colleagues and friends, including Sting, Bob Weir, Maestro Michael Morgan of the Oakland East Bay Symphony, The Supremes' Mary Wilson, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. of The Fifth Dimension, Earl Klugh and David Grisman to perform at the Narada Michael Walden Foundation's Let the Sunshine In concert, benefiting Oakland's Christopher (Chris) Rodriguez, an 11-year-old innocent victim of gun violence.

The concert will also support the scholarship fund of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and benefit the work of the Narada Michael Walden Foundation.

When: Mon., May 25, 7 p.m. (Memorial Day)

Where: Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave (at the corner of Grove Street), San Francisco

Ticket Purchase: Online at www.cityboxoffice.com or by calling 415-392-4400. Tickets go on sale Mon., March 30, noon.

Sponsor Packages available: Call George Jackson of the Narada Michael Walden Foundation at 415-812-4300.

Highlight Details: www.naradamichaelwaldenfoundation.com

Details: On Mon., May 25 (Memorial Day), award-winning and platinum-selling music producer, musician and songwriter Narada Michael Walden will present Let the Sunshine In, a concert featuring Sting, Bob Weir, The Supremes' Mary Wilson, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. of The Fifth Dimension, Earl Klugh, David Grisman, Shanice Wilson, Tevin Campbell, Lisa Fisher, Jeanie Tracy, Ralphe Armstrong, Dale "Satchmo" Powers, the Narada Michael Walden Band and other musicians, who will perform in tribute to Christopher (Chris) Rodriguez, an 11-year-old Oakland youth. In 2008, Christopher was hit by a stray bullet while at a piano lesson. He is now paralyzed from the waist down.

Some of the artists will be accompanied by an orchestra of students from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. The orchestra will be conducted by Maestro Michael Morgan, music director of the Oakland East Bay Symphony and faculty member at the Conservatory. The concert will support the scholarship fund of the Conservatory.

The Let the Sunshine In concert will also benefit the work of the Narada Michael Walden Foundation, which aims to serve, inspire, educate and provide financial support to children, adults, musicians and worthy organizations through the vehicle of music, music production, music management, concerts and donations.

About Narada Michael Walden
(www.naradamichaelwalden.com)

Marin County-based Narada Michael Walden, drummer (Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jeff Beck, Weather Report), songwriter, producer, performer, three-time Grammy award winner, and Emmy winner has produced countless number-one hits with legendary artists such as Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston. He is credited with launching the careers of Houston and Mariah Carey, and the list of his collaborators reads like a Who's Who of popular music - Sting, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Ray Charles, Al Jareau, Diana Ross, Steve Winwood, Clarence Clemons, Gladys Knight and Barbara Streisand. He also produced soundtracks for popular films including: The Bodyguard, James Bond: License to Kill, and 9? Weeks.

About the Narada Michael Walden Foundation
(www.naradamichaelwaldenfoundation.com)

The Narada Michael Walden Foundation (NMWF) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit created by Grammy award winning producer, drummer, performer and hit songwriter Narada Michael Walden. The foundation's focus is to serve, inspire, educate and provide financial support to children, adults, musicians and worthy organizations through the vehicle of music, music production, music management, concerts and donations.

The NMWF will provide instruments, education, management, production, concerts, creative services, recording, recording facilities and money primarily but not exclusively to Bay Area children, music programs, musicians and worthy causes throughout the world. The NMWF respects the "light" in every person. Music is our vehicle for allowing individuals and charitable organizations to experience their creativity, love and delight. Performing Stars of Marin, a non-profit that works with the youth of Marin City, Calif., to help them have opportunities in the arts, has long been one of the beneficiaries of the Narada Michael Walden Foundation.

About The San Francisco Conservatory of Music
(www.sfcm.edu/)

The San Francisco Conservatory of Music is one of the world's most distinguished schools of Western musical culture and has earned an international reputation for producing musicians of the very highest caliber. Its better known graduates include Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern, Jeffrey Kahane, Aaron Jay Kernis, among others.

The Conservatory offers its nearly 400 collegiate and graduate students fully accredited Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in all areas of study related to the creation and performance of music. Its Preparatory Division provides over 500 younger students the finest pre-collegiate music education available in the United States. The Conservatory's faculty and students give more than 400 public performances each year, most of which are offered free to the public. The Conservatory moved to its new home in San Francisco's Civic Center in 2006. For more information or to view a schedule of concert, please visit www.sfcm.edu.

Sting to perform at Québec City Summer Festival, July 18...

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:00:01 -0400

Sting will be performing at the Québec City Summer Festival in Canada on Saturday, July 18.

Now in its 42nd year, the Québec City Summer Festival continues to turn heads, bring the crowds to their feet, and attract music lovers from far and wide. The party will kick off and wrap up en français with two of Québec's hottest acts, The Lost Fingers and Pierre Lapointe. In the days between, four international sensations -- NTM, Kiss, Plácido Domingo, and Sting -- will bring their talent and energy to the Plains of Abraham!

At other venues around the city, Jeff Beck, Beirut, Sergent Garcia, and Girl Talk are sure to wow audiences with their musical prowess.

"With such a prestigious lineup, the Québec City Summer Festival has staked its claim as the greatest outdoor music event in Canada," noted executive director Daniel Gélinas. "Every year, we pull out all the stops to attract national and international music stars and offer original, exclusive, and one-of-a-kind programming that, from one edition to the next, has helped make Québec City a prime summer destination, and this festival, a unique urban event."

"Thanks to government support, especially from new contributor Industry Canada, we are able to ratchet up the quality even more. We have also received considerable financial assistance from Desjardins to present the five headline Desjardins acts," added Marie-France Poulin, chair of the Québec City Summer Festival Board of Directors.

STING, Saturday, July 18
Bell Stage on the Plains of Abraham

Composer, singer, actor, activist - Sting has won universal acclaim in all these roles, but defies easy labeling. He first rose to fame as the lead singer and bassist for the rock group The Police, then went on to establish an incredibly successful solo career. Sting has evolved into one of the world's most distinctive and highly respected performers, collecting 16 Grammy awards and selling over 100 million albums worldwide.

A show given only in Quebec, from Ontario to the Maritime provinces.

On sale and ticket information will be posted shortly.

Sting to perform at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods CT, July 19. Tickets go on sale to Legacy members on April 22, at noon ET...

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:09 -0400

Sting will be performing a one-off concert at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods, Ledyard CT on July 19th, and we are holding a Sting.com members-only presale. Tickets go on sale to Legacy members on April 22, at noon ET. The Legacy window will run from noon-3pm ET and at 3pm will open up until 5pm on April 23 for all other members.

Please visit the Sting.com tickets page at that time to participate in this fan club sale. Tickets go on public sale via www.mgmatfoxwoods.com on April 24 at 8am ET.

The band line-up for the performance is Sting, Dominic Miller, David Sancious and Josh Freese.

New to presales? Please take a moment to read through the presale FAQ.

Sting and Trudie to appear at the Hay Festival, May 31...

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:06 -0400

On 31 May 2009 following a preview screening of Twin Spirits there will be a special discussion with Sting and Trudie Styler culminating with a Q&A open to attendees.

Twin Spirits is a subtle and moving stage piece which tells the story of the passionate romance and subsequent marriage between composer Robert Schumann and piano protégé Clara Wieck. Sting and Trudie Styler read from the letters between Robert and Clara while their story is narrated by Sir Derek Jacobi, interwoven with music performed by a cast of international singers and musicians.

"This love story - the relationship and the tragedy - provides a great introduction for people who don't normally listen to classical music. Hearing the Schumanns' music at the same time as telling their story is a very intimate, engaging and emotional experience." Sting

"When we started on this adventure with Twin Spirits, I was profoundly moved by the richness and power of the narrative. The passion of Robert and Clara's love transcends the ages. It is a wonderful and moving story which I believe remains fascinating and relevant to today's world." Trudie Styler

5.30pm, SONY Screen, £3 The Royal Opera House and Opus Arte present Twin Spirits. A preview screening of John Caird's film which tells, in words and music, the story of love and tragedy in the lives of Robert and Clara Schumann, read by Sting and Trudie Styler.

[356] 7pm, Barclays Wealth Pavilion, £10 Trudie Styler & Sting talk to James Jolly 'Twin Spirits' The actress and the musician discuss the story of Robert and Clara Schumann, and their own collaboration in the Royal Opera House project. Sponsored by Castle House Hotel.

For more information on booking etc, please visit http://www.hayfestival.com/.