Inter-generational community Opera Project
Intergenerational Opera have connected pupils of St Peter’s with elderly members of the community and grandparents in 6 singing workshops at Lewes Depot in 2019. Both Chailey St Peter's and Fletching Church of England schools continue to work with Intergenerational Opera each Autumn term for 6 weeks culminating with a performance to parents and the community. This coincides well with the Year 6 annual visit to the local Opera House to watch live opera.
The idea of the 6 week project is to encourage communication through music, exploring different themes and ideas culminating in a much closer, more positive relationship between the two generations. The children are enthusiastic and engaged creatively in the music making and we have been inspired and impressed by their openness and warmth towards the elderly participants. As the project escalated it was noticeable to see the communicative barriers being broken down and a general openness within the room and by the end the first stages of relationships had been achieved.