MacPhail Center for Music

Dear Friends,

I am writing to you about Light in the Well, a unique multi-sensory experience to tell the stories of people with disabilities and their families. I would like to invite you to partner with us in this project. Please check out this 2-minute video: Light in the Well.

Disabilities, especially intellectual and developmental disabilities are often left out of diversity, equity, and inclusion conversations. In my work as a music therapist, I encounter many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their stories and emotional journeys are colorful and worth being told. Reflecting on my own background growing up in East Asia, where there is a stigma towards people with disabilities and their families, I want to share these stories and let other families who are affected by disabilities know that they are not alone, and that their lives are worth fighting for.

For many people with developmental disabilities, verbal communication can be challenging, but, they can freely and creatively express themselves through music. A local composer and I partnered to develop a multi-sensory performance, Light in the Well, with a live orchestra, visuals, and clients narrating and performing their own stories. The mission of Light in the Well is to transform lives and influence culture through exceptional music experiences that inspire and connect people with and without developmental disabilities. We want to build a culture that restores the damage of division with hope, fosters relationships and promotes conversations via music.

Beth is a 100% Native American. At the age of eight months, she became so ill that she was airlifted to a hospital to have brain surgery. The doctor removed a tumor on her brain that was as big as a golf ball. Unfortunately, it tested positive for cancer. After the surgery the doctor predicted that Beth would likely not survive or at best be completely unresponsive. Life wasn't easy. Her biological mom couldn’t take care of her and had to give up her parental rights. She was fostered by a non-native woman who eventually adopted her. This young girl has severe emotional behavioral challenges and because a large segment of her brain had been removed, she had multiple impairments. The woman who adopted her threw herself into nurturing and loving her. Now, Beth is 12 years old and is surpassing everybody’s expectations. She can walk, write, talk, read, spell, and play the piano and we are delighted to have her as a member of our Light in the Well cast.

Putting together this production is so important to the cast and their families, but it is a daunting task. If you believe in our mission and would like to partner with us, please consider making a donation of $50, $100, $200, or $500 to help cover the production costs:

• Administration cost ($500): parking reimbursement and catering; non-traditional instruments.

• Promotion charges ($2,000): artist fee; design and distribution of event promotional materials and invitations; website development; social media engagement.

• Video productions ($1,650): $550/day x 3 days of work.

• Twenty-five musicians ($10,000): Individual recordings of 6 movements; three rehearsals and one performance.

You can send a check to: MacPhail Center for Music, memo “Light in the Well.” The address is: 501 S. 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Or donate online at https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=348a71, select “general gift” and in the comments and questions section below (Donor Information) add “gift to Light in the Well.” All gifts are 100% tax deductible and MacPhail will send an acknowledgement letter for your records.

Light in the Well will be performed at MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis on Sunday, October 3rd this year. We will have an online version as well so that you can access it wherever you are at. Please stay tuned and plan to come to experience these stories and celebrate life!

Sincerely,

The Light in the Well team