Marklund's Got Talent—Guitar-Playing Recreation Therapist Auditions for TV

Marklund’s own Recreation Therapist, Wesley Kochan, will take a break from his regular duties of working with clients with severe disabilities when he takes to the Chicago’s Suburban Got Talent stage next week as a Top 30 Finalist. Set for July 7, at the Metropolis Theater in Arlington Heights. The competition will ultimately send a finalist to the America’s Got Talent television show.

Kochan, a longtime musician and artist, entered the competition after having won a few local contests in the past but knows he is up against tough talent in this competition. “In all these competitions, everyone is good. Even those who get cut, I listen to them and think, they could have moved on.”

Practicing and preparing for this competition is secondary for the self-proclaimed “guitarist who also sings” who works full-time at the Geneva-based Marklund. He has been a Recreation Therapist for the non-profit organization since 1997.

His responsibilities are to design and implement therapeutic activities using adaptive sports and games such as baseball, hockey and aqua therapy to get the clients involved and active. He is also responsible for putting on one of Marklund’s biggest events, the Summer Games, which is Marklund’s version of the Special Olympics.

However, Kochan does more than the average therapist. He has a special talent that includes playing the guitar and singing and uses that talent both in his work and his outside activities. The youthful 55-year old balances his talent with his job and family. It has been a roller coaster ride for Wesley Kochan, or as he is known by his fans as, Wes Lee “K”. Having been involved in bands for most of his adult life, including one called First Star Destiny, he eventually realized it was more than just a hobby, and decided to go solo. Being solo, he became The Wes Lee “K” Experience, and created a sound that was unlike anything ever done before. By combining the sounds of Classical, Flamenco, Rock and Blues to all his songs, Wesley Kochan was able to show his originality on another album called, The Wes Lee “K” Experience: A Fusion of Style.

He also started to enter contests, starting with Bartlett Idol, where he won by playing Down Under by Men at Work, while adding a Flamenco and Reggae twist to it.  Being a top 30 finalist in Suburban Chicago’s Got Talent, he believes he is on his way to greater things. When asked how he is able to get up and play in front of people, Kochan said, “I pray and practice hard- it is a blessing I have this ability.”

Kochan, a die-hard Blackhawks fan, compared his guitar playing to Patrick Kane handling the puck. “He has deked and handled the puck so many times, it is natural. I have played the guitar so many times, that now, it is muscle memory.” And like Blackhawk goalie, Corey Crawford said when he is in the net, he does not think. “When I am up on stage, I cannot think too much, I just need to trust my fingers and my faith.”

Apart from all the concerts and contests, Wesley Kochan uses his talents to help those he works with at Marklund. “The brain’s cortices consist of a left and right brain, when classical music is played, it lights up these areas of the brain because the left side responds rhythm, while the right side responds to harmony and melody and our clients need this type of stimulation.”

Tickets are available for $10 to see Wes Lee “K” on stage at the Metropolis Theater in Arlington Heights on July 7.