Magical Musical Response of WS Children in Iowa.
by Diana Buresh, mother of Ashley.
(Click here for a short video clip of Gloria Lenhoff performing at Coe College. Video courtesy of Coe College)
Our family attended Musical Savants, Genes and the Brain: Lecture and Demonstration by Howard Lenhoff and his daughter Gloria on 6/10/2000 at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
There were two other families with WS children there from the area.
The lecture was grand and Gloria's demonstration was moving. My daughter Ashley, 10 with WS, was singing right along with Gloria during her demonstration and Carol Malerich, 6 1/2 with WS, was crying with the emotional songs as some children with WS do. It was an honor to attend this event and has inspired Ashley and our family to pursue singing for Ashley.
At the end of the demonstration, the Lenhoffs invited the WS individuals in the audience to come up on stage and sing a song with Gloria. My Ashley wanted to lead but had no idea on what to sing. Howard handed the microphone to Carol, who suggested Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. All the WS individuals started singing as Gloria played her accordion. None seemed to fear the audience and sang the song to near perfection, with Carol singing directly into the microphone.
After the song, Carol and Jesse Sterzenbach, 23 with WS, exited the stage. My daughter took the microphone and proceeded to announce she was going to sing Gloria a song. She started singing a song she made up on the spot. It was about three sentences, including how she thought of Gloria as a dear friend, cared for her and wished her well. She then bowed and handed the microphone back to Howard. The audience applauded as she exited the stage. I, in tears, helped lead her off the stage in total shock. She sings to herself and to songs she is listening to, but I have never heard such impromptu perfection from my daughter.
I hope you can post this story in the WS Newsletter so that all can know how special Gloria and her family are to the WS community. This event has changed our lives and given me an endearing vision and memory of my daughter.
A special Thank You to the Lenhoffs for their gifts of music and inspiration to all of us involved in the lives of a WS individual.
