Music legends Toyah Willcox (pictured above) and Nicholas McCarthy will be attending a conference addressing music-making barriers for disabled people.
The OHMI Conference and Awards 2025: Music and Disability are being held at Birmingham City University (BCU) in partnership with OHMI and Imperial College London on March 15 and 16.
The two-day conference will explore the music-making barriers faced by people with physical disabilities, from the design and production of instruments to issues around performing.
Disabled musicians will connect with instrument designers and makers, music educators, academic researchers, teachers, charities, funders, and government agencies to share perspectives, experiences, and create new partnerships to drive meaningful change.
“As a child with disabilities (I was born with a twisted spine and grew up with dyslexia) I have had to contend with several, often unnecessary barriers to education,” said Toyah Willcox.
“Having gone on to build a successful recording career, I know disability can absolutely be a force for creativity. The OHMI Trust provides a truly valuable service in helping both disabled children and adults harness that creativity.
“I’m delighted to be the host at the OHMI Competition Awards, taking place in my home city of Birmingham, and am very much looking forward to learning more about the adapted musical instruments that enable both children and adults to fully participate in music making.”
Acclaimed classical pianist Nicholas McCarthy (pictured above), who was born without his right hand, will join a discussion with headline sponsor, ABRSM, who have launched a set of one-handed piano performance pieces for grades 1-5.
“Instruments are designed for 10 dexterous fingers,” said Rachel Wolffsohn, General Manager of The OHMI Trust.
“This is the first barrier. The second is the cost of creating instruments. For example, a clarinet is usually £300, but an adapted one is £6,000 because it’s handmade. Even a 3D printed one is £3,000 – still ten times the cost.
“Many teachers also don’t know that they can loan adapted instruments. A child with a physical disability in a mainstream school may be the only one who needs an adaption, so they miss out on the opportunity not only to learn, but the right to be fickle and try different instruments.”
To book visit https://www.bcu.ac.uk/news-events/calendar/ohmi-conference-and-awards-2025--music-and-physical-disability-instruments-performance-and-sustainable-ecosystems and for further information on OHMI visit https://www.ohmi.org.uk/
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