Sing Your Own Opera
Run by Pegasus Opera Group

In 2010 girls aged 8-13 took part in ‘Sing Your Own Opera’ – a week of workshops led by professional opera singers - during which they learnt everything they needed to know about opera in order to not only perform their own but to write their own too!

During the week girls were taught an ‘Opera Kit’ which helped them understand the various parts (from characters to staging) of an opera. They were then helped to develop a story, compose lyrics/music and design a stage/costumes for their own opera. The girls then auditioned for the various roles (from chorus to bass to soprano) and, after much rehearsing, performed both the ‘Opera Kit’ and their own opera, called ‘The Magic Camera of Candyland’ to their family members, Baytree Staff and volunteers. Everyone was hugely impressed with the opera the group had created and the girls all agreed that in addition to learning a lot, they had also had a lot of fun over the week.

Baytree Sports Week
Supported by London Youth

This Summer, to coincide with our ‘Healthy Living’ programme, we held a ‘Sports Week’ for girls aged 8-13. During the week we had taster sessions for lots of different sports including non-contact boxing, rounders, cheerleading, swimming, judo and cricket. We also found time to hold a mini Baytree Olympics with teams competing in relay races and Lauren’s Special Obstacle Course. During their lunch break girls designed flags for their Olympic teams, which were displayed in the Gym during the Sports Week’s closing ceremony - when girls received a certificate congratulating them on all their hard work.

Nightingale Song Week
In 2009 we hosted the Nightingale Singing Workshop Week (27 - 31 July) in partnership with Brixton-based Pegasus Opera Company.

A group of girls aged 8-13 (pictured below with the singing tutors and volunteers) enjoyed a week of workshops during which they learned various singing techniques and styles, wrote songs and rehearsed a performance for the Community Sing Day.

The Sing Day took place on Saturday 1 August at St Vincent’s Community Centre, Brixton and provided an opportunity for everyone attending (adults and children) to learn more about singing and to enjoy the entertaining performance from the workshop girls.

Scroll down to see more pictures from the Nightingale Week of Song & Community Sing Day