A star drops in for youngsters' lesson.

Byline: By Rhodri Phillips

International opera star Sir Thomas Allen returned to his roots yesterday as he joined primary-school pupils for a singing lesson.

The star, from Seaham, County Durham, who has graced opera houses around the world, was at Howletch Primary School in Peterlee.

Sir Thomas, 60, held a workshop with 50 pupils aged between seven and 11 who are preparing to take part in their first public performance.

Helen Adair, head of music at the school, said the children were enthralled by the baritone's two-hour lesson.

"He was very warm and relaxed with the children," she said.

"He sat down with them and starting talking to them straight away. They weren't nervous or starstruck. He was very personable.

"He sang some opera to them and then he started singing a song they knew and they all joined in." Sir Thomas was helping the pupils rehearse a musical specially written for schools called Olympics, which he first saw performed in Yorkshire in 2003.

He was so impressed by the Alan Simmons composition, he was determined to see it performed in his native County Durham.

In April, Sir Thomas will be joined by pupils from a number of East Durham schools, including Howletch Primary, for a gala performance of the musical at Peterlee Leisure Centre.

The concert will feature Sir Thomas as a soloist and narrator, as well as 300 pupils and the Easington District Wind Band.

Durham County Music Service Support manager Carolyn Norris helped co-ordinate the collaboration between Sir Thomas and the schools.

She said: "Sir Thomas was interested in putting on the musical in the county and it was a case of seeing if Alan Simmons was available.

"He was and so we got them all together and are now looking forward to putting on a great show. We are delighted that a musician of Sir Thomas's calibre has come to work with children in the area."

Olympics is a series of nine songs, each focusing on an individual sporting event, including rowing and the marathon.

The concert will be held at 7pm on April 20. Tickets, which cost pounds 3 for adults and pounds 1 for accompanied children, can be bought from the Kingsway Music Centre, Kingsway, Bishop Auckland.

For further information and to buy tickets ring [phone] or email [e-mail]