Intergenerational Opera

Charlotte Wicks is a professional opera singer and teacher living in Seaford with her young family, she and fellow opera singer Charlotte Shaw met whilst singing at Glyndebourne Festival opera, and realised their mutual love for music outreach and its effects on people of all ages and walks of life. After previously running dementia choirs, working for live music now and being involved in opera outreach for the main UK opera companies, they decided to create their own Intergenerational project, where two diverse age groups can come together to communicate through music making.

Intergenerational opera is a community outreach project that has been running since 2018. After the challenges of living through a global pandemic these projects have become essential in helping schools and Care homes to reintegrate with their local communities.

We realise the impact the last two years have had on the older population, particularly those living with dementia, and the social development of our younger generation who have missed interacting with their wider family and community, so we are focusing on creativity playing an important role in bringing these two diverse age groups together.

Having previously gained funding from Brighton Dome and Festival, and the success of our previous projects, we are able to provide a six week project for a reasonable fee. The projects use music to bridge the gap in communication, and to create and sustain important social relationships. Charlotte Wicks and Charlotte Shaw Intergenerational Opera LTD

10 Lindfield ave, Seaford Bn25 4Dy

Our 90-minute weekly sessions are run by two professional opera singers and are accompanied by a pianist. The sessions involve learning about the art of opera, teaching music by ear, creative composition and culminate in a final performance for carers and parents. Our project aims to increase social skills, build confidence and enhance overall general wellbeing for all involved.

We are currently working with several schools in East Sussex, and are booked to work with both Cradle Hill Primary School and Seaford primary school this coming September, and so we are looking for groups of older people in Seaford to join this six-week project, which is either held in the care home lounge or communal area, or in the school’s hall.

Although we are not a registered charity, we do give a donation from each of our projects to Dementia UK and we would love to hear from care homes, schools and community groups in the Seaford area who would be interested in working with us in the future.

Our work is also supported by organising and performing in Opera Gala evenings in local churches to raise awareness and funds to keep the project affordable for schools and care homes. Our next Opera Gala features opera singers from Glyndebourne, English National Opera and the Royal Opera house, accompanied by Matthew Fletcher at St Leonard’s Church, Seaford on Saturday 14th May at 7.30pm, tickets can be reserved by contacting intergenopera@gmail.com More information can also be found on our website: www.intergenerationalopera.com

We look forward to hearing from you.

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