WHITE PLAINS — Debbie Margolis, a lively 11-year-old from Larchmont, was the first to go up. Dancing to piano accompaniment, the curly-haired, bespectacled girl sang a piece she wrote about the Music Conservatory of Westchester’s 80th anniversary. She started off quietly, but by the end of the song, she got the whole audience to sing the chorus along with her.
The Sunday performance kicked off the first big public recital for the conservatory’s Music Therapy Institute, which for 24 years has been using music education to strengthen learning and social skills for students with cognitive impairments, learning issues and autism.
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“I think it went great. I think the kids, as they always do, rose to the occasion ,” said Lisa Sandagata, the institute’s outreach director. “It gave the families an opportunity to celebrate their children.”
The show included 16 performers singing, playing piano or strumming guitar for an audience of about 100 people at the conservatory’s recital hall.
Drew Somerville, 14, of Rye has been with the music institute for four years, focusing his weekly visits on practicing piano. For his first time playing in front of an audience, he chose “The Spider’s Den” from “Babes in Toyland.”
“I was a bit nervous because I was afraid I would make a mistake. I wanted it to sound like in the book,” he said after the show. “I think most of the time I did pretty great.”
Renee Kelly, his mother, said she was elated to see Drew play publicly after hearing him practice many times at home.
“Seeing all this come together and seeing what he’s achieved, it’s unbelievable to me,” she said.
The institute’s first foray into recitals was last year. The billing only included Debbie, who sang three original songs and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
That event made administrators realize that many students at the institute wanted to show off their music talents, Sandagata said. Holding a recital, she said, would benefit the students and contribute to the the conservatory’s 80th anniversary.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Debbie, now a recital veteran. “I was nervous, but I decided to take the nerves back and go for it.”
Her mother, Michelle Gavens, said Debbie has played the piano, drums, guitar and xylophone, but has most enjoyed singing and dancing.
“I think it’s great. Debbie thoroughly enjoys music. It speaks to her in a special way,” Gavens said. “It’s great to see her excel and have so much enthusiasm.”
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