On Friday August 3, 2018, nine residents from Camden’s Oldfield Estate performed as part of Garsington Opera’s Community Company.

After rehearsing at home on the Central and Cecil Housing Association estate, the Camden choir came together with 35 others company members to perform ‘The Bureau of Lost Things’ at Garsington Opera in High Wycombe.

This was part of the All Together Singing project that the housing association runs for its over 55s.

Through this, Central and Cecil fund a choir throughout the year, led by vocal coach Nicola Wydenbach and accompanist Laurie O’Brien.

In this performance, All Together Singing took on the characters of ‘advisers’. They guided the other characters to find beloved lost items. The choir were delighted to be invited by Garsington Opera to participate in this project.

Next month, All Together Singing will be performing extracts from ‘The Bureau of Lost Things’ for residents living in the housing association’s specialist dementia care homes.

One of the performers, Brigette Daniel, 74, said: “The experience preparing for and performing at Garsington Opera was truly a confidence building project for our choir. Our vocal coach and accompanist, together with the vocal director and the director of the performance were so encouraging, making us want to perform well for them.”