A choir welcoming teens and adults of all abilities is coming to Emporia.
The A New Start Choir is “a choir for those that are differently abled and their allies,” founder Lydia Scott and director Anna Ryan said.
Scott, the brains behind the new choir, said she wanted to create a space where people of all abilities could enjoy singing together, something she has lacked since the end of Sunflower Singers.
“Sunflower Singers was directed by Katie Just when she was here, she was a music therapist but she moved away before COVID, so for individuals like Lydia, there hasn’t been anything available and that’s part of the reason why she wanted to have something,” Barb Scott, Lydia’s mother explained.
“I used to be a part of Sunflower Singers,” Lydia Scott said. “And I thought, ‘OK, we need a new name, we need a new start. How about ‘A New Start.’ The choir is different because it’s open for the whole public, people with disabilities and people without disabilities.”
Ryan, who also directs the Emporia Children’s Choir which serves students through eighth grade, said the choir is open to the entire community, high school students and above.
“Those coming into adulthood or adults, either that are differently abled or just friends and allies of differently-abled people that would like to get together and sing fun songs,” Ryan said.
Lydia has been singing since high school, where she was taught by Emporia High School vocal music teacher Sarah Bays.
“I love singing. When I sing, it’s like I’m in my own world,” Lydia said. “… This is something for people to come together, to sing, to put the bad stuff away and not have to worry about the bad stuff anymore.”
While Ryan was unsure she wanted to take on the choir at first, she said Lydia’s determination to make the choir happen was an inspiration.
“I told Lydia, see if you can find a place where we can rehearse, and I thought ‘Oh, that’s going to be hard, you won’t be able to find a place, so that’s how I’m going to get out of it,’” Ryan laughed. “Next thing I know, Lydia calls me and says ‘We have a place to rehearse.’”
Ryan said she was reminded of the Parable of the Persistent Widow from the Bible, and knew she had to help Lydia’s dream come true.
“Along the way, I thought for Lydia to be so persistent, this must be something that needs to happen. So I got to be on board and now I’m as excited as Lydia is,” Ryan said.
Lydia said she hopes to someday take the choir on the road, to perform across the state and even in Branson, Mo.
“The songs that we will be singing are, ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love,’ by Elvis, ‘Firework,’ by Katy Perry, ‘Lean on Me,’ by Bill Withers, ‘Shake it Off,’ by Taylor Swift, ‘Stand by Me,’ by Ben E. King, ‘Surfin’ USA,’ by The Beach Boys, ‘We Will Rock You,’ by Queen and ‘Nothing but a Hound Dog,’ by Elvis,” Lydia said. “I’m a really huge Elvis fan.”
As a role model for people with special needs, Lydia said she hopes the choir will show others that anything is possible.
“If you want to get a job, get a job. If you want to sing, sing. If you want to act, act. For me, this way, I can tell people that they can do things,” Lydia said. “With this choir, people with special needs can say ‘Hey, I can do whatever I want. Don’t put me down. I will fight for power.”
Additionally, she hopes to see many people from the community join the choir, as well as attend their concerts.
“There are not a lot of people in the community to come and cheer us on. Not a lot of people come to Special Olympics or anything,” Lydia said. “Now, it is like, we need people to know, come support us, come support Special Olympics, come support us in plays, come support us in concerts. If we have more support, more people will want us to come and perform.”
The New Start Choir will meet at the Messiah Lutheran Church at 1101 Neosho St. The first rehearsal will be Tuesday, Oct. 17 from 7:15 to 8 p.m. and will continue every Tuesday evening as possible.
Article Credits: The Emporia Gazette