Autistic, disabled kids star in Downtown Brooklyn School Lunchtime Concert

June 9, 2015 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Autistic and disabled students from District 75’s P53K school in Brooklyn performed at Borough President Eric Adams’ School Lunchtime Concert Series on Wednesday. Singing was Tiffany, who received enthusiastic applause from the lunchtime crowd. Photo by Mary Frost

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Students from three Brooklyn schools drew cheers in Downtown Brooklyn last Wednesday at Borough President Eric Adams’ School Lunchtime Concert Series at Willoughby Plaza.

Young performers from Intermediate School 303 wowed the crowd with their tightly-choreographed excerpts from the hit musical “Grease,” as did the mixed chorus from Intermediate School 98 (the Bay Academy for the Arts and Sciences).

But the loudest applause followed a heartfelt rendition of Selena’s “Dreaming of You,” performed by autistic and disabled students from District 75’s P53K.

A young girl named Tiffany, decked out in a gorgeous pink dress, crooned the words, “Late at night when all the world is sleeping, I stay up and think of you. And I wish on a star that somewhere you are thinking of me too.” Other students danced and hugged behind her as she sang.

The audience called for an encore.

The performance was all the more remarkable, said the group’s supervisor, because Tiffany had taken over the singing role from another child who had become sick just that morning.

“She walked in and had no clue that she was going to be singing today,” he said. “She did a great job.”

BP Adams told the lunchtime crowd, “This is our favorite day of the week – we have the opportunity for young people to come out and perform for us in Downtown Brooklyn and share their talents. We wanted to be clear this year that we wanted all of our children to be involved. We are excited today because these are children who have overcome major obstacles and have really embraced their artistic energy.”

The lunchtime concerts are held on Wednesdays at noon at Willoughby Plaza, on the corner of Willoughby and Pearl Streets, in collaboration with the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership.