Dear Choral Director… Thank you for being so inclusive…
An open letter of gratitude to a choral director for modeling acceptance and inclusion during a recent performance.
Dear Choral Director,
Last week, my daughter performed at a winter concert held at the High School’s Performing Arts Center. The ‘house’ was packed filled with parents, grandparents and siblings of the performers, all poised and ready with their cameras, excitement and anticipation as they eagerly awaited the start of the highly sought after performance. By the list of selections, the level of preparedness on behalf of the performers and your endless dedication, everyone in attendance knew that we were in store for an amazing experience. I couldn’t help but marvel at how you were able to get high school students to show up looking so dazzling in their concert gowns and tuxedos!
At the start of the concert, there wasn’t a sound to be heard, we were captivated as you lifted your baton ready to lead the performance. Just as you were about to begin, the vocalizations of a child with special needs could be heard echoing throughout the huge hall. My stomach turned and my heart began to race, I cringed as I too have often been the mom of a child who vocalizes and would worry beyond imagination how he would be perceived. For those few micro seconds, time seemed to stand still, everyone seemed immobilized and unsure of how to react. However, being the consummate professional that you are, you didn’t flinch or skip a beat, and simply moved forward becoming lost in the beauty and magic of the performance. As the night continued, so did the expressions, but taking your lead, not one head was turned from the performance, no one seemed to notice.
Thank you for modeling what you teach and showing this little corner of the world what true inclusion and acceptance looks, sounds and feels like. While this is the way things should be and could be, it isn’t always the case. Tonight, you reminded us all that everyone wants a seat at the proverbial table, some of us just express it in different ways.
Forever grateful,
A fellow mom of a special needs child
