City Council Gets Gift Of Holiday Concert Performed By Adults With Intellectual Disabilities
By Mike Dunn
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Philadelphia-area bell choir made up of adults with disabilities will be getting some national exposure with an appearance on the Today show on December 24. The choir also brought some holiday cheer to city council members this past week.
The "Joybells" choir provided a festive note for city council members and staffers Thursday after the council adjourned for the year. The choir is made up of adults with intellectual disabilities -- most with Down's Syndrome -- at Melmark in Berwyn. Their director is Sue Graves:
"They have unique gifts and musical abilities that we like to give them opportunities to share with the community," said director Sue Graves. "They practice four hours a week. We perform all through the year. We have a regular repertoire that we perform the rest of the year, and then we have our Christmas program that we present in December."
And the bell choir recently recorded a CD with the help of some friends at the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.
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