When Ethan Walmark was 18 months old, he was placed on the autism spectrum. He began receiving services, like speech and occupational therapy.
At 3 years old, his Stepping Stones teacher told his parents: “Take away Ethan’s music. When he listens to it, he goes into his own world. You want him to be in our world.”
They were stunned. Allison Ziering Walmark’s father was a professional musician. When she was pregnant with Ethan, she and her husband Michael sang to him every night.
“From the day he was born, even though he was always happy, whenever he heard music, you could almost see a magical transformation,” Allison recalls.
“He became one with the music. At Music Together classes, we got a sense he was trying to figure out the melodies and rhythms.”
She and Michael thought it would be cruel to take away something he loved so much, and showed so much talent for.
They not only ignored the advice — they added the amount of music in his life.
Young Ethan Walmark.
“Music is the universal language,” Allison says. “It brought him immeasurable happiness.”
Ethan began music therapy with the Connecticut School of Music, plus private piano and keyboard lessons.
The next year, Bobbi Burns — another Stepping Stones teacher– excitedly called Allison.
Bobbi said that when she played Little Richard’s “Itsy Bitsy Spiker,” Ethan sang the melody — then chimed in on the harmony too.
“That’s never happened before!” the teacher said. “He’s something special!”
At Kings Highway Elementary School, Ethan learned the upright bass. He performed in musicals, and sang with the chorus.
But that’s just part of Ethan’s story.
When he was 6 years old, a YouTube video of you playing “Piano Man” went viral.
He performed live on the “Today Show.”
He became one of only 14 people worldwide — and the youngest — to receive a “Genius of Autism” award. Then he won it again.
The Huffington Post named him 1 of 20 “Child Prodigies.”
He helped Yoko Ono flip the switch to light the Empire State Building blue for World Autism Awareness Day.
Meeting Ethan before a concert, John Mayer said, “Hey, I know you! You’re the internet sensation!”
Ethan’s performance of “Eminence Front” rocked a Who show.
He appeared on NBC’s “Today Show” and CBS’s “Early Show.” He sang the national anthem in front of 25,000 fans at Red Bull Arena.
As a 12-year-old Coleytown Middle School student, Ethan followed Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Billy Joel and Elton John at the 1st-ever Autism Awareness Gala Fundraiser at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
He brought down the house. He performed 4 songs, closing with “You are the Sunshine of My Life.” Ethan dedicated it to his sister Eliza, who was in the audience.
When CMS was remote during COVID, he taught himself to play guitar. (He can really shred.)
He joined School of Rock. He formed a band — and great friendships — with other musicians there.
Ethan Walmark, on the keytar.
The Walmarks looked forward to Staples High School, where Ethan could join the outstanding music program.
It did not disappoint. Now, as a senior, Ethan has truly found his niche. He has been embraced by the Music Department staff and students.
He is a member of the Tri-M National Music Honor Society. From freshman year on, he has sung with the elite Orphenians group. He’s a Choralaire, a charter member of the A Cappella Club, and pianist for the Jazz Ensemble.
Ethan Walmark (center) with (from left) Rohan Wadhwani, Curtis Sullivan, Max Ardrey and Ben Herrera. They performed Billy Joel’s “The Longest Time” at last spring’s Staples Pops Concert.
Ethan was selected for the Connecticut Music Educators Association All-State Treble Chorus, and is a 2-time CMEA Western Region Mixed Choir honoree.
He’s won 5 straight School of Rock All-Star competitions, as a keyboardist and vocalist. He plays in 3 bands, all over the tri-state area.
You can see Ethan in one of them — Strictly Business — tomorrow (Saturday). They play from 7 to 11 p.m. at 314 Beer Garden, in South Norwalk.
And in the classroom, Ethan is a consistent Honor Roll student.
Ethan Walmark shreds it.
Ethan has auditioned at several top contemporary music colleges.
“Ethan’s story should inspire — and be a lesson for — any parent with a child, whether neuro-divergent or neuro-typical,” Allison says.
“Advocate for your child. Do what your gut tells you. Advice is nice. But only you know your child.”
(To see a collection of Ethan Walmark’s music videos, click here.)
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Ethan Walmark, on vocals.
