Xenia Concerts Artist Training Program

The Xenia Concerts Artist Training Program is a first-of-its kind professional development program that helps performing artists design and present inclusive, accessible concerts that support the needs of neurodivergent and disabled attendees.

Developed in partnership with Erin Parkes, PhD, with support from TO Live, the program helps artists understand a diverse spectrum of abilities and sensory experiences while equipping them with tools and techniques to support inclusive concert programming.

Since launching the program in 2022, we have received positive feedback from artists across many disciplines and career stages. Having identified a critical need in the arts ecosystem, we have now made the program available to anyone in the world through our online learning platform. Click the link below to find out more and to register!

Program overview

The training program includes three main components:

A series of pre-recorded webinars covering a wide range of accessibility-related topics (summarized below)
Reflection questions to support your learning
A guidebook on how to design and deliver accessible, inclusive musical programming

Webinar topics

Barriers to Inclusion: Challenges that prevent or dissuade participation in music performance for neurodiverse populations and those with disabilities, including physical, sensory, geographic, attitudinal, and financial barriers.

Language and Disability: Exploring various models of disability; understanding the importance of language use in the disability community; how to approach language issues with respect.

Basics of Common Diagnoses: Outline of the characteristics of diagnoses through a strengths-based lens, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, learning disabilities, FASD, and more.

Creating a Supportive Sensory Environment: Understanding differences in sensory processing for neurodiverse populations; adaptive strategies to support diverse sensory needs in the environment and concert program.

Communicating with Clarity: Discussing both verbal and non-verbal communication techniques to engage concertgoers with varying communication support needs.

The Adaptive Concert Experience: What to expect from the audience; managing the unexpected; balancing structure and flexibility.

Creative Engagement through Performance: Ways in which performers can engage with audiences with diverse needs through adaptive interactive activities.

Adaptations for Blind and Partially Sighted Audiences: How to provide a respectful and supportive concert environment for people with sight loss (developed in partnership with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, with funding support from Heritage Canada).

Instructors

Erin Parkes, PhD, Founder and Executive Director, The Lotus Centre for Special Music Education

Rory McLeod, Executive and Artistic Director, Xenia Concerts

Paolo Griffin, Managing Director, Xenia Concerts

Kaylce Carter, Accessibility Coordinator, Xenia Concerts

Bruce Petherick, musician and Autistic Advocate

Tuition and group rate information

Tuition for the online course is $200.00 CAD per participant. Programming support, personalized advisory meetings, and additional accessibility guidance are available on demand at additional cost. Contact Xenia Concerts at info@xeniaconcerts.com to inquire about group rates, workshops, presentations, and advisory services.

Past participants include…

ASD Band

Canadian Chamber Orchestra

Joy Lapps-Lewis, percussionist

Jennarie, vocalist

Pratibha Arts

Tesla Quartet

Ladom Ensemble

National Youth Orchestra of Canada

Scotia Festival of Music

Thalea String Quartet

Trash Panda Brass

…and more!

What the artists are saying

“This is an incredible course, I don’t know why this type of accessibility training isn’t mandatory in Music School.”

-Bien Carandang, trombonist, member of Trash Panda Brass

“Performing through Xenia Concerts was a beautiful experience for me. There is no doubt that music can change lives. With Xenia Concerts, it is not only the audience whose lives stand to be impacted, but also those of the artists. Thank you so much for doing the important work you are doing and for the invitation to be a part of it.”

-Jesse Stewart, percussionist and researcher

“The artist training Xenia Concert provides offers not only a practical but also deeply empathetic and holistic approach to designing adaptive experiences for diverse populations and communities that are often overlooked. The skills, tools, and resources artists are introduced to allow for the curation of more inclusive and sensitive platforms, and can be applied to the broader long-term impact of each artist’s work in the community.”

-Tong Wang, pianist

Learn More

Want to learn more about the Xenia Concerts Artist Training Program or join an upcoming cohort? Contact Executive and Artistic Director Rory McLeod at rory.mcleod@xeniaconcerts.com or 437-441-7543.

Partners

The Lotus Centre for Special Music Education

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind

Funders and Donors

The Government of Canada

TO Live

DONATE TO THE ARTIST TRAINING PROGRAM