Newly-arrived music teacher Joanne Kemp has launched St Aidan’s Church of England Academy’s first Folk Club to help students share her passion for music.

Joanne, who joined the Darlington Academy in January, loves music and was for nine years a member of the Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, a TA band in Newcastle, as well as being a regular folk performer for years.

Now Joanne, who plays six instruments, has launched a Folk Club at the Hundens Lane Academy, saying: “I have always loved folk music because it gives me the opportunity to play music with my friends. It is really enjoyable.

“Our folk club is a chance for students who play instruments to play with other musicians but also for students who are interested, but do not play, to try things out. The penny whistle, for instance, is the easiest instrument in the world to learn.”

Joanne herself plays the penny whistle as well as piano, clarinet, saxaphone, flute and Northumbrian small pipes.