The Brewers Foundation were thrilled to support the incredible work carried out by Pearson National Teachers Silver Award winners, Intergenerational Opera. The Community Interest Company has partnerships with schools and carries out community outreach work across East Sussex with those younger and older, teaching them how to sing and create their own music.
Intergenerational Opera CIC was founded by professional opera singers Charlotte Wicks and Charlotte Shaw in 2018. They provide intergenerational music workshops for children and the over 65’s, including those living with dementia. There is a full schedule of projects in care homes and primary schools throughout East Sussex, involving five-week workshops conducted by professional musicians. The project uses music to develop community relations between two diverse age groups with the weekly activities designed to develop interaction, boost confidence, provide creative expression and generally improve overall well-being for its participants.
The projects bring communities together through fun and creative music projects, with the participants working as a team to learn about each other through learning a new skill. The benefits range from combatting loneliness, health and well-being for all ages, improving confidence and empathy in young children and strengthening community cohesiveness.
The Brewers Foundation donated £250 to the 5-week projects that took place in May and June with over 50 participants from Chyngton Primary School, Seaford Head Secondary School and two local care homes, Blatchington Manor and Seaford Head Retirement home. Together, they learned about opera through singing the music of ‘Carmen’ by Bizet, played musical instruments together and even had a flamenco lesson with a professional dancer! The final performance at the end of the 5 weeks was attended by parents and teachers and went so well they got a standing ovation!
“The Brewers Foundation gave us a contribution toward this project, enabling music making to take place with professional artists and musicians in a community setting, ensuring valuable connections were made. Learning about each other and with each other increases our sense of the wider world as well as our local community and how much we have to offer each other even though we are from different generations.”
Charlotte Wicks, Intergenerational Opera CIC.
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