A GREEN energy fund is bringing music to the ears of east Durham residents by giving two community music projects a funding boost.

The Seaham Music Academy and the Durham Music Service have been awarded grants from the South Sharpley Wind Farm Community Fund and the High Haswell Wind Farm Community Fund respectively.

Durham Music Service has been providing tutoring across the county for almost 50 years, and is this year putting on a concert featuring musicians from the prestigious Halle orchestra, and 300 pupils from 12 schools across east Durham.

There will also be a series of workshops from the musicians in the schools with a concert scheduled to take place on at St Bede’s School, in Peterlee, later this month.

Operator REG Windpower donates £16,000 to the High Haswell Community Fund each year of the wind farm’s working life to support good causes in the local community.

Grant funding will be provided for community groups and projects that benefit people within a three mile radius of the wind farms.

Ian Robinson from the Durham Music Service said “We are thrilled to receive this funding from High Haswell Community Fund. We hope that the concert with the Halle players will be a great event for the whole community and something to remember for years to come.”

Seaham Music Academy received a grant for four new saxophones and repairs to their drum kits. The Hazelwell Centre, in Haswell was also awarded funds to install a hearing loop.