Molloy celebrates inclusivity in the arts with Unity Through Diversity concert

Artists of all abilities and backgrounds will take center stage on Friday at Molloy University’s Madison Theatre for the fifth annual Unity Through Diversity event, an evening dedicated to celebrating inclusivity and creativity in the arts.

Created by Diana Abourafeh, a music therapist with the university’s Rebecca Center for Music Therapy, the event is an exhilarating showcase of talent from the neurodivergent community.

“We always look forward to this event,” Abourafeh said, adding that this year also marks more than 20 years of service to the community by the Rebecca Center. “The event continues to grow and be a platform for the neurodivergent community, as we feature neurodivergent-run businesses and vendors, artists, performers and hosts.”

Jeannine Perrin, administrative assistant for the center, offered a glimpse behind the scenes during last week’s dress rehearsals at some of the heartwarming performances being presented at this year’s concert.

“You just have to experience it for yourself,” Perrin said. “It’s good for your heart.”

What makes the event such a thrill for participants and audience members alike, she said, is how it gives neurodivergent artists a platform to express themselves through music, dance, poetry, self-advocacy, storytelling and visual artistry.

“It gives them an opportunity that the rest of the world doesn’t yet,” Perrin said.

Mike Kelliher, another music therapist at the center, has taken part in the Unity Through Diversity event since it began in 2017.

“We started picking stuff out in January,” Kelliher said, reflecting on the months of preparation that went into this year’s concert.

Kelliher, who has spent the past decade helping neurodivergent people harness the power of music to express themselves, emphasized the joy of performing alongside them. “Being up there and rocking with them,” he said, is what he enjoys most about the event.

To kick off the evening, an artists’ reception and exhibition at Molloy’s Public Square will showcase submissions from organizations including the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, the Nicholas Center, the Backyard Players and Friends, and Lots O’ Stuff, as well as the Rebecca Center community.

After the reception, attendees will be treated to a live musical performance in the Madison Theatre. The concert will open with a performance of Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke,” featuring Molloy President Jim Lentini and its vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, Donald “DJ” Mitchell Jr., along with participants from the MOST program, the Rebecca Center and Bach to Rock.

Christopher Troiano will perform the Beatles’ “Come Together.” Music has been a constant outlet for Troiano who has been coming to the Rebecca Center since he was 5. Although he has severe autism and is mostly non-verbal, he was referred to the center after his former music teacher noticed that he had absolute pitch.

Eliza Stoehrer, a Molloy senior and an intern at the Rebecca Center, will accompany Troiano and others on guitar. Stoehrer said that what she appreciates most about the Unity Through Diversity concert is collaborating with a diverse group of people that she wouldn’t typically have the chance to work with.

“It all comes out in the music and the art,” she said.

Stoehrer said she is particularly excited about performing “Sir Duke,” a song she learned five years ago and which continues to be dear to her heart. Joining her on stage will be Kelliher on piano, Charles Powell on drums and Ian Kang on bass guitar. 

The Rebecca Center, on Molloy’s main campus in Rockville Centre, serves as a clinic that uses interactive music therapy to facilitate communication and social interaction for those with developmental challenges. The center operates as a nonprofit, providing clinical services, training, education and research opportunities to people of all ages.

All proceeds from the Unity Through Diversity event will support the Rebecca Center Client Scholarship Fund, which ensures access to music therapy services for those in need. To learn more about the scholarship fund and the programs offered at the center, visit TheRebeccaCenter.org. Tickets for Unity Through Diversity are still available for $25 at the box office. For more information, go to MadisonTheatreNY.org or call (516)-323-4444.