VALDOSTA —
Glenn Wisenbaker loved music. He would sing, dance and keep time to anything that pleased his ears.
Although Wisenbaker was an adult who was developmentally disabled, he found tranquility and enjoyment through music.
He passed away six years ago, but his memory lives on through the work of the Valdosta State University Symphony Guild and the Lowndes Advocacy Resource Center (LARC) with the Glenn Wisenbaker Memorial Concert.
“I think Glenn is listening right now.”
These were words whispered Saturday morning at the Glenn Wisenbaker Memorial Concert rehearsal between Valdosta State University Symphony Guild member Marian Belanger and Wisenbaker’s sister Janice Allen.
Allen was Wisenbaker’s primary caregiver during his final two years of life. She learned lessons of unconditional love and how challenging it can be caring for a developmentally disabled person. “When I walked into the room, he would just love me. His face would light up,” explained Allen. “He was unable to communicate well and would call me “Jaja” - I did get to hear “I love you,” one time. I cried.”
“It’s amazing how much they can learn and how much they know,” she said. “He couldn’t communicate, but he would try to sing. It calmed him down. This concert gives a whole new meaning for people with special needs to experience orchestral music who otherwise would have been unable to.”
For Belanger, this was absolutely true. Last year, a client came forward after the performance and said he enjoyed the violin solo, but was having difficulty placing the name of the instrument being played. Belanger suggested violin and fiddle with no success. Finally, the client declared “Stradivarius!” to Belanger’s surprise at the precise reference.
“Where that came from, I’m not sure,” said Belanger. “Through music you might be able to reach a part of them that you can’t reach them in any other way.”
While Glenn never got the opportunity to witness an orchestra perform live, hundreds of local developmentally disabled adults have because of the work of local advocates.
As Allen points out, this concert has spread awareness to this special segment of the local community with ticket donations from the Annette Howell Turner Art Center and Valdosta Choral Guild for some of their performances.
This is the fifth year of the Glenn Wisenbaker Memorial Concert and about 145 developmentally disabled adults who are clients at LARC spent almost two hours Saturday morning peacefully listening to selections such as Claude Debussy’s “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun” and “Concerto for Harp in E-flat Major, Op. 74” composed by Reinhold Gliere.
The enthusiasm of the visitors was readily apparent as they arrived at Whitehead Auditorium and proceeded into the concert hall. They were excited to hear live music. They were thrilled to dress in their finest outfits. Some were simply eager to eat out after the performance.
“Some of them really love the music and they look forward to it every year,” said LARC executive director Dr. Harry Hamm.
Local News
Related Photos
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Conductor Edward Cumming leads the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra in ‘Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun’ by Claude Debussy during a rehearsal on Saturday morning at the Valdosta State University Whitehead Auditorium. Approximately 145 developmentally disabled adults from Lowndes Area Resource Center attended the rehearsal. David Rodock
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David Bailey, Lisa Simpson, Ramona Lee, Cindy Jones and LARC executive director Dr. Harry Hamm stand outside the Valdosta State University Whitehead Auditorium after attending a rehearsal of the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra on Saturday morning. David Rodock
Discussion
The Power of Music
VSO performs Glenn Wisenbaker Memorial Concert
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