6 minute read
Your Story Matters: Meet The Best Of All Band
A TRIUMPH OF TALENT AND SPIRIT
BY LINDSAY ZEHREN PHOTOS BY LINDSAY ZEHREN
IN TODAY’S WORLD the arts can often feel exclusive, when in truth they are the perfect avenue to bring us all together. For almost four years, adults in the GiGi’s Playhouse Indianapolis’ Epic program have met on Wednesday mornings to make music, dance, and connect with and support one another under the direction of music therapist Lindsay Zehren. This group of talented individuals is proving that the heart of music beats in many different ways.
The group has worked together to sing and dance, volunteer, carol for local older adult groups, sing at Carmel’s Christkindlmarkt, and perform at the yearly GiGi’s Playhouse Indianapolis gala. In 2022, the band wrote their first original song, “We Are the Best of All,” a collaborative effort that highlighted all of their unique voices, dreams, and passions. This endeavor spurred a desire for the band to continue to write original songs, and planted the seed that one day they may be able to record these original works of art.
To write their songs, the band collaborated to come up with a theme and a feel for the song, shared thoughts and feelings around that theme, and then experimented with different chords and sounds for the song until they found the perfect fit. Band member Christine Ruddy said, “It felt awesome to write our own songs as a group, and I am excited to share them with my friends.”
Their dream became possible when the band received an Arts Project Support grant through the Indiana Arts Commission
in 2024. This grant, designed to foster inclusion and provide resources for underrepresented communities to participate in the arts, allowed them to step into a professional recording studio, something that none of the band members had ever experienced before. “It was the best day of my life,” band member Grace Burke said of the experience. “We never would have had the chance to do this together, and I want to do it again. Music is my life.” Another band member, Cole Jarrett said, “I felt proud to record our songs. I hope that everyone hears our words and feels happy. I hope it reminds people to be respectful of us and that we have important things to say.”
Thanks to the supportive guidance of Adam Long, the owner of Playground Productions Studio in Indianapolis, the band was given the platform to not only record their music in an empowering environment, but to experience the full rockstar treatment. Band member Andrea Scott, whose stage name is ‘Baby A’ reflected, “this made me feel famous and strong because I knew my voice was heard.” Long stated, “The opportunities we receive at Playground Productions Studio to record a variety of talent always brings a smile to our face, but nothing has delivered a greater feeling of joy and wider smiles than working with this group! The energy, the fun, and the absolute professionalism was fantastic and an absolute dream. That was a magic the organization should be proud of, and something more this world needs in our lives.”
Even family members of the band have benefited from the experience. Band member Rebecca Brown’s guardian, Kathy Williams, said, “This was more than we could ever imagine to be a part of, and Rebecca is so excited and has enjoyed it all!”
“I am incredibly proud of this group and how they’ve come together to share their unique story through music,” Zehren shared. “This is the true beauty and healing power of music. Every voice matters, every story deserves to be heard, and everyone has the ability to connect. You don’t need to be a professional musician to experience this; the arts belong to everyone.”
For “The Best of All Band”, their music is more than just a performance. It’s a message to everyone: that no dream is too big, no goal unreachable, and no person too different to share their voice. Liz Richards, the executive director of GiGi’s Playhouse Indianapolis, who is featured in the rap section on one of the band’s original tracks, said, “I’m just so proud of them. It was so cool to get to experience all of this through them. I am proud of their hard work and dedication, and it was such a joy to see it all come together. I am so grateful to everyone who made it possible for The Best of All Band to complete this project.”
Their dream was made possible when partner organization Resounding Joy received an Arts Project Support Grant. The impact of The Best of All Band goes far beyond the music itself. Their work has challenged stereotypes about what people with disabilities can achieve. Through their dedication and talent, they’ve shown that people with Down syndrome can not only participate in but also lead in artistic endeavors. They’re proving that music is not limited by ability or background, but rather is a universal language that speaks to the human experience.
As they continue to create, perform, and inspire, The Best of All Band proves that everyone has a voice worth hearing and a song worth sharing.
The Best of All Band will be releasing their two recordings at the Uniquely You New Year’s Bash and Variety Show on February 1st. They can’t wait to share their music with you!
