Beethoven's Nightmare

I remember the first time that I had the privilege of listening to this band. I met Ed Chevy and was invited to their rehearsal, in order to listen to them play. My children and I attended one rehearsal, which was held in a small warehouse setting. I remember the three of us, sitting down across from the members. All three of us left that rehearsal in awe. The reason being, every member of that band is Deaf. As they performed, it underscored their obvious talent.

Ed Chevy is a Deaf man that is multi-talented. Besides performing in Beethoven’s Nightmare for various functions, he is highly active in the community. For instance, he has performed solo at a middle school in Honolulu. The name of the annual function is "Maile’s Dream: A Celebration of Differences." Apparently, this particular middle school puts on this fair, which is established as a means of raising awareness to those that are disabled. While I certainly do not view Mr. Chevy as being disabled, I commend his very active approach to those in his community. Mr. Chevy highlights, during these school fairs, the fact that people can dream and look forward to the future, even with some form of disability. I have watched him perform in Maile’s Dream once before. He also participates in the Deaf Santa at Pearlridge Mall.

Mr. Chevy is definitely multi-talented. Besides all of the functions he attends and performs for, in Honolulu, he is a teacher of American Sign Language at a local community college. Add to that very busy schedule, the fact that he has also taught people to sign dance. Mr. Chevy has a uniqueness about him that draws attention to the messages which define his performances. He starts out, in every event I have watched him perform in, very engaged with his audience. He includes the audience in all of his performances. The youth of the Deaf community here seem to love attending Mr. Chevy’s performances. Perhaps it is a way of creating laughter among his audience. Perhaps it is a way of delivering and presenting the fact that all can succeed, regardless of their circumstances. Lastly, perhaps it is simply about encouraging others to grasp laughter and joy with their very being.

Mr. Chevy is indeed extremely talented. He not only has the ability to perform, but the passion that it takes to draw in his audience, in order for them to participate in the humor, strength, and humility that he so perfectly embodies. It is as though Mr. Chevy yearns to take the self-confidence, courage, and strength, that so vibrantly embraces each of his performances, and offer it freely to those in his audiences. It seems to me that it isn’t about himself in his performances, but about the thousands that he speaks on behalf of. You see, he highlights a healthy pride. His performances cause all in attendance, whether they are hearing or deaf, to see the hope and promise that consume him.

Whether he performs for a community event or for one of the area schools that seek entertainment, when he does perform it isn’t about him. On the contrary, it is as though each time Mr. Chevy walks onto a stage, he has but one message to give to his audience: all things are possible for the Deaf. He zeros in on his audience. Sometimes, he will perform while playing his old time songs. Other times, he has been known to toss a humongous beach ball out into the audience. For Mr. Chevy, I feel as though it is not about his performances or how great he is during his performances. It is, instead, a method of highlighting the ablities and talents that each of his audience members also possess.