A Cozy Cáfe Concert at Friends Coffee & Tea

Written by: Shelley Li, FCSN Voices Youth Team Lead

Graphics by: Kaitlyn Huynh, FCSN Voices Senior Graphic Artist

On a warm Saturday noon, the excited hum of voices drifted among the April breeze as a gathering audience at FCSN’s South Bay Center chatted merrily while waiting for musical performances to begin. With an assortment of strawberry matcha, fruit teas, chicken croissant sandwiches, and snow bliss cookies from FCSN’s coffee shop, Friends Coffee & Tea, audience members filled the chairs of the concert room, relaxing in the cozy environment.

*Community members gather together at FCSN’s South Bay Center to listen to performances from special needs musicians and enjoy delicacies from Friends Coffee & Tea.*

For the past three years, Sufen Wu, one of the original founders of FCSN, has hosted this cáfe concert twice a year. With the goal of spotlighting the talented individuals in the special needs community and promoting the coffee shop, the concert arose from humble beginnings. “Next to my house, there’s a playground, and every summertime, we see so many children playing there, so I started to think why not have Chiling, my son, just bring an instrument and play for them,” Sufen said. “I feel this is my mission as his mother to get him to be known — not as how talented he is, but to help him introduce himself to the community.”

From that first seed, the cáfe concert has since grown into a platform for more special needs children to perform to a wider audience in a comfortable setting. This April’s concert transported listeners through flowing waters tumbling across rocks to merry countryside mornings with Muqing Chen and Bob Gao’s piano music. Caressing hints of sad notes, Selina Ko’s performance of “Greensleeves” then took the audience on a trip down memory lane, surfacing beautiful nostalgic memories. “I get nervous, but I love to perform,” Selina said.

*Selina’s piano piece, “Greensleeves,” evokes nostalgic memories with its melancholy melody.*

Differing from the rest, VanHai went on stage to tell 10 Easter jokes he learned from FCSN Toastmasters Club, inciting waves of laughter with questions such as “How does an Easter bunny stay in shape?” (Eggs-ercise!). Further livening the room, New Hope Band left members cheering and swaying with its energetic rock-n-roll music.

*VanHai’s jokes leave the whole audience chuckling.*

*New Hope Band energizes the crowd with their rock music.*

Among the performers, a little singing group invited the audience to dance together to “Baby Shark” and “Whale Hunt.” As sharks of all ages swam through the room, the singing group joyfully waved their pink flowers and wands to the beat. “What I want to emphasize is the so-called low-functioning children,” Sufen said. “They are a group of happy kids! Their pure and innocent joy is something all of us can learn from them.”

*The little singing group led by Mannching Wang.*

During the concert, parent Wanju also introduced her son Justin’s journey in becoming an artist for the coffee shop. Art was Justin’s way of communicating with the community as was music for many of the performers at the concert. “I really want to encourage parents of special needs individuals to keep on searching for what makes their child interested,” Sufen said. “We can make a spot for everybody together.”

Attending as special guests for this concert, the third generation of three FCSN founding families had their own performance prepared as Albert and Anna Wang’s grandson, Hector, danced to “We Are One” from Lion King 2. Since FCSN’s founding in 1996, nearly 30 years have passed with grandchildren almost as old as their parents were when the organization just started. “I just want to get them connected, to introduce them to the center, and bring them together to have fun,” Sufen said. “We are in a mission of passing along this organization generation after generation.”

*Albert and Anna Wang’s family’s third generation.*

*Sufen’s family across three generations.*

*John and Huimen Yang’s family’s third generation.*

On September 16, there will be another cáfe concert with a special highlight from a singing choir group, consisting of passionate mothers. “We hope to have more performances next time — it doesn’t have to be so talented, just share what you know,” Sufen concluded.

As the concert came to a close, Chiling’s “Nightingale Serenade” accompanied leaving families. Amidst the sweet nightingale song and frog calls, smiles hung on every face, heartened by a loving meal, beautiful music, and a supportive community.

Friends Coffee & Tea 的舒適咖啡館音樂會

四月, 一個溫暖的星期六中午，微風中漂蕩著興奮的氣息。一群觀眾聚集在FCSN南灣中心，一邊品嚐咖啡廳 Friends Coffee & Tea 的草莓抹茶、水果茶、雞肉牛角麵包三明治和snow bliss餅乾，一邊等待音樂會的開始。

*觀眾聚集在 FCSN南灣中心，欣賞特殊兒童音樂家的表演，並享用 Friends Coffee & Tea 的美味食品。*

近三年來，為了給特殊兒童一個展示他們音樂的機會並推廣咖啡店， FCSN的創始人之一吳淑芬每年都會舉辦兩次這樣的咖啡廳音樂會。這個音樂會的開始很溫暖。 “我家旁邊有個操場。每年夏天，我們都會看到很多孩子在那裡玩，所以我開始想，為什麼不讓兒子季齡帶個樂器來給他們表演呢?” 淑芬說, “我覺得能讓季齡被認識是我作為他母親的使命——不是讓別人認可他的才華，而是幫助他向社會介紹自己。”

從這第一顆種子開始，咖啡館音樂會已經發展成為一個平台，讓更多特殊兒童可以在舒適的環境中為更廣泛的觀眾表演。今年 4 月的音樂會上，陳穆清和Bob Gao的鋼琴表演帶著觀眾快樂地走在鄉村的清晨裡，又走過流水翻滾的岩石邊。隨後，Selina Ko演繹的《Greensleeves》用輕輕傷感的音符帶領聽眾踏上了一段回憶之旅，勾起了美好的懷舊。 “我會緊張，但我喜歡表演，” Selina 說。

*Selina的鋼琴曲《Greensleeves》以其優美的旋律喚起了美好的回憶。*

與其他人不同，VanHai上台講述了他從FCSN Toastmasters Club學來的10個復活節笑話，並以 “復活節兔子是如何保持身材的？” （Eggs-ercise！）等問題引來陣陣笑聲。之後，New Hope Band充滿活力的搖滾樂讓觀眾們歡呼不止，將現場氣氛推向高潮。

在表演項目中，一個小歌唱隊邀請觀眾一起跳《Baby Shark》和《Whale Hunt》。當各個年齡段的鯊魚在房間裡游來游去時，歌唱團隨著節拍快樂地揮舞著粉紅色的花朵和魔杖。 “我想強調的是，所謂低功能的孩子,” 淑芬說 , “他們純粹而無邪的快樂，是值得我們學習的地方。”

演唱會中，家長Wanju還介紹了兒子Justin成為咖啡店藝人的歷程。藝術是Justin與社會交流的方式。音樂對許多在音樂會表演的孩子來說也是如此。“我真的很想鼓勵有特殊兒童的父母繼續尋找那個讓他們的孩子感興趣的東西，”淑芬說, “我們可以一起為每個人找出一個屬於他們的位置。”

作為特邀嘉賓，三個FCSN創始家族的第三代也出席了這場音樂會，並準備了他們自己的表演。Albert和Anna Wang的孫子, Herbert, 跳了獅子王2中的《We Are One》。 FCSN自1996年成立以來，已經過去了近30年。子孫幾乎都跟他們的父母在組織剛剛成立時的年齡一樣了。 “我只是想把FCSN介紹給他們，讓所有人聚在一起時玩得開心，” 淑芬說, “我們的目標是慢慢把這個組織交給下一代人。”