OHMI’s major international conference on Music & Physical Disability to take place in Birmingham

Valerie Thomforde

OHMI’s major conference on Music & Physical Disability sponsored by ABRSM, taking place in Birmingham on Saturday, 15th and Sunday, 16th March 2025, is expected to attract musicians, music educators, instrument designers and instrument makers from across the globe.
 
The conference, which is being delivered in collaboration with Birmingham City University and Imperial College London, will explore the music-making barriers faced by people with physical disabilities, from the design and ongoing production of instruments to wide-ranging issues around performing. The event aims to bring together perspectives and experiences from disabled musicians themselves as well as instrument makers, academic researchers from many different disciplines, teachers, charities, funders, and government agencies.  Recently developed instrument designs will also be demonstrated.
 
The event builds on the success of the inaugural OHMI Conference in 2018 which attracted international representation and speakers from five continents.
 
Rachel Wolffsohn, OHMI’s General Manager, said,
 
“Our 2025 Conference will be a truly international affair. We have speakers from the US, Australia, mainland Europe and the UK presenting their groundbreaking work. Our overarching themes, which include digital music solutions and music education, are designed to appeal to a range of delegates beyond professional musicians whatever their interest in full inclusion in music-making.”
 
James Risdon, Access Lead at headline sponsor ABRSM (The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) added,
 
“We recently announced our new exam repertoire lists for pianists playing with one hand at Grades 1 to 5. Featuring a broad range of music for left-and right-hand piano, including some exciting new commissions through our composer mentoring programme, this development has been made possible through the dedication of specialist consultants and the invaluable support of organisations such as OHMI. We're delighted to be headline sponsor for this important conference, which will help raise awareness of one-handed piano playing amongst both adults and children.”

Delegates at the conference will get the opportunity to hear internationally acclaimed classical pianist Nicholas McCarthy perform some of ABRSM’s new one-handed Performance Grade repertoire. The winners of the OHMI Competition awards – which are designed to stimulate further and more rapid developments over the coming years – will also be announced at the awards ceremony on the Saturday evening.  Our esteemed host for the OHMI Competition Awards ceremony will be singer-songwriter, actress, and presenter Toyah Willcox.

Tickets may be purchased on the OHMI Research Partnership website.
 
An Early Bird Discount rate of £200, for tickets offering full access to Saturday and Sunday of the conference and to the Awards ceremony on Saturday evening, is available until Friday, 14th February.