ACBDD Special Edition: Beacon Singers celebrates 10th Anniversary
Below is an excerpt from the ACBDD’s 2026 Special Edition, which is produced in partnership with Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and The Post. The full edition can be found here.
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By Morgan Miller
Beacon Singers, a choir at the Beacon School for specialized education in Athens County, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The choir is a part of the Athens County Community Singers, a nonprofit organization for people with and without disabilities, which creates a community for many students in the Beacon School.
Beacon Singers began when choir founder and director Stephanie Morris launched a pilot program in January 2016.
“I decided to start a choir at Beacon School to provide the students with the environment of what it’s like to be in a choir in a large group and to prepare for performances,” Morris said.
At the end of the pilot program, the choir held its first concert. Morris said many students enjoyed it and teachers found it beneficial. With a grant from the Athens County Foundation, the choir was able to start a year-long program the following fall. The choir has been active since, performing about four times a year.
Samatha Dunlap has worked at the Beacon School for 15 years and has seen many students grow through participation in the Beacon Singers. “When we first started, we thought that it was going to be overwhelming and overstimulating for our students because of lots of noise, musical instruments and singing,” Dunlap said. “But we’ve actually seen a lot of students get used to those loud noises and become more accustomed to being around people who sing.”
Over the years, students engaged in Beacon Singers have learned many skills from participating in the choir. Becky Martin, Principal of the Beacon School, has seen those skills firsthand.
“The choir builds confidence, communication, a sense of belonging and allows students to express themselves creatively while working toward a shared goal,” Martin said. “Most importantly, it helps students feel included and celebrated for their unique contributions to the group.”
Choir is a new experience for many students in the Beacon School, which Dunlap says can be intimidating at first. However, she recalls seeing students get more comfortable over the years as the choir has continued to grow.
“Some of our students started off participating very little with singing, or participating very little with instruments,” said Dunlap. “Throughout the years, they’ve learned to be more confident about singing, and now they love to belt it out.”
The choir has evolved in many ways over 10 years, with one of the most prominent ways being through the use of technology. When the choir started, students were often led by lyrics with drawings Morris pointed to on large poster paper. That helped non-speaking students and students who were not readers participate in the choir. Several years ago, choir rehearsals moved to the cafeteria where the director was able to use a program displaying the lyrics and pictures on the pull down screen by the projector.
After a donation from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Association, specifically the VFW Post 9893, a projector and sound system were put into the Beacon School gymnasium, where the concerts are now held, Morris said. The new projector assists Morris in her goal to get as many students as possible engaged in the Beacon Singers.
“We try to have every student participate in the music making process in various ways. Students can play instruments or hold signs that go with the song so that all students, especially those who don’t have an audible voice, can participate,” Morris said.
Dunlap said another idea behind the choir was for students to have a community they can join after graduating from the Beacon School. Because Beacon Singers is supported by the Athens County Community Singers, students can choose to continue to participate throughout their adult lives. “For people with disabilities, it can be hard to find a niche or a group that you belong to, so it’s nice that Beacon Singers gives our students that comfort after graduation,” Dunlap said. “That’s what I love most about it; it’s something they can start at 10 and participate in until they’re 100.”
The upcoming 10th year of the Beacon Singers speaks volumes to the dedication of the students, instructors, and director. The devotion from everyone involved can be seen in the choir’s concerts.
“It’s been a lot of work, but when I see the faces, the smiles, and when I hear the excitement at these concerts or performances, it’s always a lot of fun. That’s what makes it worth it,” Morris said.
Athens County Community Singers receives funding to support the adult group and Beacon Singers from the Ohio Arts Council, Athens County Foundation and the ATCO Legacy Fund. For more information, visit their websites at www.oac.ohio.gov and www.athensfoundation.org.
Edited by doctoral student Ebenezer Fayah Amartey