Hiland concert band to present premier of a young boy’s song of joy

Oftentimes, the most intriguing, touching and marvelous stories come from the minds of children.

On May 11 at 7 p.m., one such story will unfold in a musical piece that came from the mind and imagination of a young Ohio boy diagnosed with a rare genetic disease who dreamed of making a visit to Disney World, and in the process, he created his own dream that has amazingly sprung to life through music.

“We've been working with a nonprofit called Sing Me A Story, and they connected us with a child named Peter who created a story based off him traveling to Disney World with his family,” said Zachary Rearick, director of instrumental music at East Holmes Schools.

Autumn Dobbeck of Sing Me a Story Foundation has been instrumental in promoting this unique opportunity to share the story.

“We are partnering with the Hiland High School ensemble this year on a very special project,” Dobbeck said. “Sing Me a Story transforms the imaginative stories of children facing significant challenges into original works of music.”

On May 11 the Hiland High School concert band will premiere a piece inspired by Peter, the creative 10-year-old. Peter was diagnosed at a young age with Batten disease, a rare genetic condition, and he is now fully blind. Despite this, he approaches life with creativity, resilience and joy. When invited to write a story, Peter imagined a magical trip to Disney World with his family.

In his story a wooden train comes to life, transforming into a floating maglev train that carries them on an adventure. When the train breaks down, Peter chooses optimism and problem-solving, finding a way to continue the journey. Composer Owen Axelberd, a student at the Cleveland Institute of Music, transformed Peter’s story into a new work that captures both the wonder of his imagination and the strength of his spirit.

The inaugural performance will take place at 7 p.m. May 11 at Hiland High School.

“Because we are premiering it at the Fine Arts Festival and not a traditional concert setting, we are going to have lots of opportunities for interaction with his family and our community,” Rearick said. “We are looking forward to hosting him and his family that night, and the concert band will be premiering the piece around 7 p.m.”

The evening also will be filled with artistic creations of the entire East Holmes School District.

The public is invited to experience this original piece of music that presents hope, love and the joy of living with purpose.