Who are we?

4 Corners was formed in the year 2000 by ex-teachers Ken Patterson and Richard Scott.

Ken Patterson has been a primary school teacher, advisory teacher, arts development coordinator, university lecturer, Egon Ronay recommended café proprietor, actor, composer and musician.

In 2003 he is working with The Sage Gateshead as a community musician, with Theatre Sans Frontières as actor touring with ‘Le Tour de France’ & ‘Round the World in 80 minutes. He founded ‘The Newcastle All Stars Steel Orchestra’ the Tenth Avenue Band, & is currently performing with ‘Black Cab’, a cabaret sextet.

Vocalist and instrumentalist, Richard Scott, has been a member of the internationally renowned ‘Grand Union Orchestra’ for ten years.

Grand Union mix jazz and world music in new compositions featuring Richard’s vocals and guest musicians from around the world.

He was a secondary music teacher for 11 years, now working with all age groups.

4 Corners has worked with a team of special musicians for different projects over the past years:

Yousuf Ali Khan.

Yousuf is from Bangladesh. He is a nationally renowned tablas player, vocalist and workshopper. His smiling approach has lit up classrooms up and down the country.

Daksha & Nikita Asher.

A mother and daughter team who teacher Gujurati, Bhangra and other Indian dance styles. Their fresh hands on approach matches the 4 Corners straight forward style.

Gerry Hunt.

Gerry is a multi instrumentalist whose experience facilitates youngsters’ composition and improvisation. Based in London he plays with Grand Union Orchestra with Richard.

Cheng Yu.

Chinese pippa player who contributed to Disney’s cartoon ‘Mulan’, Cheng Yu was a lead tutor on 2003’s 4 Corners INSET programme for teachers.

Mpho Skeef

Mpho Skeef’s family connections are with S.Africa. She was a lead tutor on the 2001 4 Corners INSET programme for teachers. She recently could be spotted on TV as backing vocalist with Miss Dynamite.

Keith Hill

Keith Hill is a percussionist and member of ‘Principle 3’. He has spent time in Cuba and working as a musician on stilts in ’Neighbourhood Watch’. Keith is skilful in teaching samba and other poly-rhythms to whole school classes in KS2/KS3, and with tuned percussion.

Sarah Kekus

Was based in Wyndam Egremont, Cumbria as a music teacher. She was a great success as a lead tutor in 2003’s INSET programme with Balinese Gamellan and now manages The Sage Gateshead’s education programme.

Virginina Kennedy

Hugely experienced dancer who worked as tutor in 2005's INSET cycle inspiring KS1 and KS2 teachers to devise dance with their youngsters.

Zed Morgan.

A stunning djembé player, based in London, who travels regularly to contribute to 4 Corners projects.  Zed is from Jamaican stock, specialising in Nyabingi rhythms with solid experience in schools’ work.

Graham Raine

Graham Raine runs Offbeat Tracks in Northumberland, recording bagpipers, steel pan and other specialist musics. He has played guitar and fiddle with the 4 Corners band as well as assisting with sound and recording projects, and the 4 Corner Website.

Francina Turon

Catalan musician who has worked a number of times with 4 Corners and runs a 4 Corners programme in Barcelona on an annual basis. Francina plays cello with folk group Sol de Nit.

Rachel Unthank

Recently Rachel has found fame with her band The Winterset. Winner of the 2005 Mojo magazine folk almum of the year. A key musician in our ?Hands and Feet? programme with djembes and clog dancing. She worked closely with Fiona Taylor and Emma Hardy to create a successful project in 2004.

Judith Thompson