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| Gareth Malone's Choir winner 'thankful' for having Asperger's | Gareth Malone's Choir winner 'thankful' for having Asperger's |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A student who wowed TV audiences with his performances during Gareth Malone's The Choir has said he is "thankful" for having Asperger's syndrome. | A student who wowed TV audiences with his performances during Gareth Malone's The Choir has said he is "thankful" for having Asperger's syndrome. |
| Michael Luya is a member of Semi-Toned, a group crowned winners of The Choir: Gareth's Best in Britain on Tuesday. | |
| He said Asperger's, a form of autism, pushed him to be the best he could be. | He said Asperger's, a form of autism, pushed him to be the best he could be. |
| He added: "I'm really thankful for the fact I've got Asperger's. It's a part of me and I wouldn't be where I am today without it." | He added: "I'm really thankful for the fact I've got Asperger's. It's a part of me and I wouldn't be where I am today without it." |
| More on the winning group, and other news | |
| Semi-toned is a group of 12 former and current University of Exeter students. | Semi-toned is a group of 12 former and current University of Exeter students. |
| In the semi final of The Choir, broadcast on BBC Two, Michael was praised for singing an emotional solo of Candle in the Wind. | In the semi final of The Choir, broadcast on BBC Two, Michael was praised for singing an emotional solo of Candle in the Wind. |
| The 22-year-old said: "I tend to get very socially anxious. I also have difficulties recognising how other people are feeling and reading other people's emotions. | The 22-year-old said: "I tend to get very socially anxious. I also have difficulties recognising how other people are feeling and reading other people's emotions. |
| "I couldn't grasp the emotional weight of the piece, so my approach was a lot more logical. | "I couldn't grasp the emotional weight of the piece, so my approach was a lot more logical. |
| "I would say because of the challenges to connect, it gave me a drive to find something even deeper and even more personal." | "I would say because of the challenges to connect, it gave me a drive to find something even deeper and even more personal." |
| 'Inspiring' | 'Inspiring' |
| Michael, who is now studying a master's in Mathematical and Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge, has received messages of support on social media, including some from others with autism. | |
| Clare Cox from the National Autistic Society said: "Many autistic performers tell us that they are happiest and most confident when they are on stage entertaining an audience. | Clare Cox from the National Autistic Society said: "Many autistic performers tell us that they are happiest and most confident when they are on stage entertaining an audience. |
| "By demonstrating his musical and performance skills in such a high-profile competition, Michael will undoubtedly inspire more young autistic people to have the confidence to follow his example." | "By demonstrating his musical and performance skills in such a high-profile competition, Michael will undoubtedly inspire more young autistic people to have the confidence to follow his example." |