Dave has been involved in music for his whole life, since he joined a music group when he was a child, to learning the drums and then studying for a degree in music, and recently picking up the piano.

“When I was seven I joined a singing group called modern music, which wasn’t choral. I would sit next to the drummer and listen and learn.”

Dave spent a year talking to and listening to people living in Deptford and Lewisham to find out what people were missing and what their community needed.

When the choir first started out there were three founding members, and Dave was just going to conduct.

But when the pianist had to leave, Dave took over that role too, and now he sings, plays the piano and conducts, sometimes all at once.

“I spoke to a lot of people in the area and from different backgrounds and I heard many stories about mental health and a loss of community spirit.”

“Someone suggested a choir, and that’s how we got started.”