The Community Music School at Southwestern College is sponsoring the “Light It Up Blue” concert on Monday, April 2, at 7 p.m., in Messenger Auditorium in the Darbeth Fine Arts Center.  There is no admission charge and the public is invited to attend. Attendees are encouraged to wear blue to show their support for the autism community.  

According to Jeremy Kirk, assistant professor of music at Southwestern College, the “Light It Up Blue” concert is in conjunction with World Autism Awareness Day, which is held on April 2 each year.  

“The concert is a celebration of neurodiversity and aims to raise awareness, start discussions, and help form connections within our community,” Kirk says. 

Performers include the Southwestern College Percussion Group, Journey Kids Choir, Aidan WellsFilbert, Kaela Massey, and several community members.  

“This concert is actually not about music; it is about connecting with others and celebrating differences through music,” Kirk says.  “Students have been learning about the autism spectrum and exploring processing differences through music, and I could not be more proud of them.”

The concert will also feature the world premiere of Kirk’s latest composition for percussion ensemble, “Process.” 

“’Process’ is a work that exemplifies the differences in processing for both neuroatypical and neurotypical persons,” Kirk explains.  “There are times of joy, confusion, discomfort, and celebration within the piece.  The final movement invites audience participation and is a chance for everyone to connect and embody Ubuntu.  Ubuntu is an African philosophy that speaks to the interconnectedness of all humans.  To put it simply, ‘I am me because of we.’”