One-handed playing of musical instruments takes centre stage in Birmingham

​The accomplishments of musicians playing instruments with only one hand were celebrated at a special concert for The OHMI Trust, held at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on 12th September 2026.
 
The concert marked our 15th anniversary and sought to raise both funds and awareness of our work in commissioning the research, design and manufacture of adapted instruments, making them available through the OHMI Instrument Hire Scheme and in matching disabled musicians with qualified teachers. 
 
The concert showcased the art of the possible through a vibrant mix of repertoire and styles performed by OHMI musicians of all ages, alongside RBC students and alumni. The evening began with performances from the youngest of OHMI’s Music-Makers, including a powerful rendition of the ‘James Bond Theme’ by 10-year-old Luca on the trumpet.
 
One-handed performances or those made possible with the use of enabling equipment were delivered by:

• Hungarian musician Edit van der Burg, who plays the one-handed flute after incurring a significant brain injury.
• Teenage pianist, Freya Terris, who recently made history as the first person to pass ABRSM Grade 8 using only one hand.
• OHMI trustee, Liane Todd, who lives with complex regional pain syndrome following a life-changing accident, on the one-handed clarinet. 
• Esther Mannouch, who returned to music-making after losing the use of her dominant hand due to the long-term effects of cancer treatment, on the one-handed recorder. 
• Rebekah Goulston, whose cerebral palsy affects her conventional playing of the instrument, on the one-handed flute. 
• French Horn player, conductor and teacher Chris Griffiths, who has the condition Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), using his specially designed French Horn stand, developed through an OHMI-supported innovation project.

The evening concluded with the massed ensemble of OHMI musicians and RBC students and alumni performing Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil’s ‘Make Your Own Kind of Music’, arranged for the occasion by OHMI Chair of Trustees, Clare Salters.
 
Speaking at the concert, The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zaker Choudhry said: “Speaking at the concert, The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zaker Choudhry said: “Before tonight, I did not know about OHMI, and it was a wonderful event. I have seen so many talented people on stage, some playing with only one hand and the music they played was excellent. I would like to commend OHMI for organising the Celebration Concert and giving everyone an opportunity to see these marvellous musicians.”


Event organiser, Emma Brown, who is also a postgraduate research student at RBC and trustee of The OHMI Trust, said: “Everyone deserves the opportunity to play, create and perform music to the highest level and I’d like to thank the RBC for their support, and of course the talented performers and my wonderful peers from RBC who kindly donated their time to help put on this event. There are so many people who are passionate about musical inclusion, and it was wonderful to get them all together in this way.”
 
The concert was one of OHMI’s ‘15 for 15’ fundraising events where concert and ensemble performers are invited to support and raise awareness of OHMI’s valuable work through their own events over the course of OHMI’s anniversary year.