I am so happy to share this video with you of Christina playing Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” on the piano with the Four Seasons Orchestra.

This is more than just a piano-concert played by a little girl with Down syndrome. The mission is two-fold:

1) Bring music into the lives of children with special needs, and thus allow them to experience some moments of happiness and build their self-esteem and confidence….did you see Christina’s smiling, happy and proud face at the end when she received the beautiful flowers?!? That is priceless and says it all.

Music brings healing to special needs families and bonds them closer together, because music is the universal language.

2) To show the world what is possible in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. To ask the world to include and protect people with special needs and to be intentional about it. There are things we can only learn from the weakest among us, and children with special needs belong to society and humanity as well. They, too, are God’s children and are fearfully and wonderfully made by an awesome creator who loves all of us.

The Four Seasons Orchestra set an example and was willing to do something that has never been done before and is unheard of in the world of professional music: including a girl with Down syndrome in their performance. They said it all with this act of kindness and bravery:

a) They said that people with special needs deserve to be included and treated with love and respect.

b) They said that organizations need to be intentional and creative about inclusion.

c) They said that organizations don’t have to make a big deal out of the fact that they choose to include someone with special needs, and Action speaks louder than Words.

d) They said that the world needs to forget all the false and old stereotypes from the past, and look at people with disabilities with a fresh set of eyes.

e) They said that simply music is the answer to lots of hurts and problems. It doesn’t take a lot to get someone involved in active Music-Making. Just begin!