INTERNATIONAL opera singer Graeme Danby is to star in one of the biggest nights in a North-East brass band's history.

The English National Opera bass, from Consett, County Durham, will star in the first concert of a Festival of Brass being staged by Stanhope Silver Band, in Weardale, County Durham, on Friday.

Although he has appeared at many concerts in his native North-East over the years, it is the first time Mr Danby, who lives in Buckinghamshire, has sung with a brass band in Weardale.

He agreed to make the trip after being approached by Michelle Robson, wife of Stanhope Silver Band's conductor, Steve, at a celebrity concert at Gibside, near Gateshead, earlier this year.

"Michelle said he had no hesitation in agreeing to taking part in our festival," said Mr Robson, who has been conductor of the Stanhope band for about 12 years.

"Apart from being a tremendous coup for the band, it will be the biggest night I can recall since joining it."

The first part of the concert, being staged at Stanhope Methodist Chapel at 7.30pm, will consist mainly of music from opera.

But it will include a special work, composed by Mr Robson, on the theme of a poem about a Celtic god associated with the waters of River Wear, written by Weardale poet Pru Kitching.

The second half of the concert will feature popular North-East folk songs.

Proceeds from the concert will go to Brass Band Aid, a £50,000 fundraising effort started by the Stanhope band to build a school in a village in Ethiopia.

Tickets, costing £5 for adults, £4 for pensioners and £2 for children are available at Joan Woodhall's shop in Stanhope, or by calling Steve Robson on (01388) 537229.