A MUSICIAN who has helped hundreds of children learn to sing is leaving to take up a new teaching post.

Mish Kelly, who for the last six years has been Director of Music Outreach at Durham Cathedral, is to take up a new role as music teacher at Yarm Prep School.

During her time at the cathedral, she has led the Durham Cathedral Young Singers, which involved several groups of singers from babies through to 16-year-olds, as well as a schools singing programme which involves 24 primaries every year.

She said: “It has been a real pleasure to see so many children develop their musical skills in the time I’ve been here and not only have they got better, but they’ve really enjoyed it too.

“I love to see children being challenged to sing work that they may not have the initial confidence to do and I have scared a few teachers witless in my time with my ambitious choices.

“But when we all hear the children successfully singing so beautifully and often in three parts, holding their line against the harmonies it is a joy for everyone involved.”

During her time at Durham, she has built a giant boat as a prop for a performance of Britten’s Noye’s Fludde and wheeled a giant go-kart down the Nave of Durham Cathedral Nave for a performance of Alan Simmond’s Saturday Afternoon.