Three Shore Road Students Provide a Special Concert for Artists with Down Syndrome

Most times it is easy to notice individuals who provide service to a community. The police, members of a volunteer fire department and teachers are usually the first that come to mind. It is also easy to notice children who provide community service, members of the scouts, 4H club or church youth group also come to mind, because they members of volunteer organizations whose mission statement is to provide service. The idea of three eleven year olds taking up a cause by themselves without adult supervision is generally not the rule. To fly under the preverbal radar as to not receive accolades, but rather do something because it was a right and good thing to do, is usually typically uncommon. On Sunday, March 19, 2017, three (3) current six graders at Shore Road School in Bellmore, truly provided an excellent example of how as individuals we should service our communities. The proved, that our community is not just local, but extends further than we imaged and that we should try to embody the meaning of giving of oneself. Lauren Gomez-Nieto, Anthony Torre and Aidan Weaver, are the students who through the generosity of their hearts provided the true meaning of serving the community.

On Saturday March 18, 2017, unbeknown to many on Long Island, Long Island celebrated World Down Syndrome Day, with the grand opening of the DownrightArt Exhibit. The official World Down Syndrome Day is observed on March 21. On this day, people with Down syndrome and those who live and work with them throughout the world organize and participate in activities and events to raise public awareness and create a single global voice for advocating for the rights, inclusion and well-being of people with Down syndrome. Every two years Alexander’s Angels Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation from Long Island, holds an International Art Exhibit to coincide with World Down Syndrome Day. The exhibit has been open to artists with Down Syndrome from all over the world, and provides them a forum to display their talented art work. Artist from Long Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, California, Mexico and Poland, to name a few locations, have submitted their art works, which are currently on display at the Castillo di Borghese Vineyard in Cutchogue New York. Following the grand opening, a dinner reception for the artists held at the Macari Vineyard in Mattituck. The following day, Sunday, March 19, 2017, the festivities continued as the artists and other supporters of down syndrome enjoyed a day at the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead. The participants were greeted by the ComicCon Star Wars character and enjoyed a special concert given by Lauren Gomez-Nieto, Anthony Torre and Aidan Weaver, from Bellmore. The trio played music from Star Wars which was enjoyed by all participants, and as the trio played, they were surrounded by the ComicCon characters while they played music from the movie Star Wars. It was truly a great way to cap off a fantastic and electrifying weekend. The characters were most impressed that 3 eleven year olds planned this concert on their own and prepared with no adult supervision.

These three children took it upon themselves to honor these artists in a truly artistic way, and let them know that they support their cause for recognition. The children practiced on their own, not supervised by any adults, and worked hard over the past couple months to make this presentation in honor of World Down Syndrome Day. This was not an easy task as all three children are every active. Aidan plays travel basketball, travel soccer, plays in his school’s orchestra and is involved in various other activities. Aidan has also been an All-County Selection through NYSSMA, as a Cellist. Anthony is also very active as he also plays travel basketball, plays in his school’s orchestra, was a member of his school’s theater group and is a gifted violist. Lauren, showing a little girl power and not to outdone by the boys is also active playing travel soccer, travel lacrosse, plays in her school’s orchestra, is an active member of the Girls Scouts, is on the Youth Board of Alexander’s Angels, was also a member of her school’s theater group and has also been an All-County Section through NYSSMA, as a violinist. It is refreshing to see these young individuals take it upon themselves to willing give of themselves and provide a service to others. This type of thoughtful act out of the kindness of their hearts is what makes our nation unique and it is nice to know that we have young individuals in our future who do not look for their own interests, but rather in the interest of others.