National Down Syndrome Congress recognizes Wisconsin Singers

The National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) recognized the Wisconsin Singers  for working with a cognitively challenged young man at a dance workshop in January.

In a video posted in the March issue of the NDSC Communicator, Jeffery Carter of Waterloo, Wis., busted some moves with the Wisconsin Singers, who were leading a choreography workshop preceding an upcoming concert on Jan. 21.

Performing and traveling with a mission to be ambassadors of goodwill, the Wisconsin Singers work with area musicians before they perform. As shown in the featured video, the Wisconsin Singers worked with local Waterloo high school and middle school choir students, teaching them choreography that will be used in the professional show.

“This gives [the students] some great collegiate role modeling and provides them a great opportunity to bond,” says Robin Whitty-Novotny, director and producer of the Wisconsin Singers.

Carter, who already had a connection to the Wisconsin Singers through current performer Ryan Moldenhauer, who was student teaching in Waterloo, looked like a pro while he worked one-on-one with Moldenhauer throughout the workshop.

After posting the united efforts from the Wisconsin Singers and Carter on YouTube, the video has served as an exemplary model that various therapists are using in NDSC workshops, according to Whitty-Novotny.

The Wisconsin Singers also posted another video showcasing their mission during a separate outreach opportunity with students in Janesville, Wis., March 16.

During this fundraising show, the singers worked with six cognitively challenged students from the Adaptive Music Program at Janesville Parker High School.  The Parker students spent around a month learning the Wisconsin Singers classic Fifth Quarter Medley, a fun and spunky tradition.

“These moments leave lasting impressions on their lives and become some of their favorite high school memories,” said Dana Schoemer, a Special Education teacher at Parker.

After learning the various dances and cheers, the students joined the Wisconsin Singers on stage to perform their new moves at the concert.

“This concert gives my students a chance to show off their talents in front of a large audience in a place where their efforts are encouraged and celebrated just like any other student,” Schoemer says The video is posted on the Wisconsin Singers’ YouTube channel.

For the Wisconsin Singers and the students participating, these two opportunities were special experiences, according to Whitty-Novotny. “We went into each of these shows expecting to give something back but in truth, our UW students were on the receiving end.”