We’re so glad you’re here to learn more about Adaptive Concerts and accessible musical programming. By reading this series of blog posts, and perhaps even planning your own Adaptive Concert, you’re joining a growing movement of artists, producers, and concert presenters who are putting accessibility at the heart of live performance. Together, we’re finding creative and meaningful ways to reach new audiences and make music more inclusive for everyone. We want to help you improve the accessibility at your events, whether you’re running a series of relaxed or Adaptive Concerts or you just want to start making small improvements to the accessibility of your programming. Our goal is to make the process of designing and presenting accessible concerts as smooth, inspiring, and enjoyable as possible for you, your audiences, and the artists you collaborate with.

What Are Adaptive Concerts?

Adaptive Concerts are family-friendly musical events designed to meet the diverse accessibility needs of as many people as possible. These concerts take place in a welcoming, judgment-free environment where everyone is encouraged to engage with the performance in their own way. Think of it as a “choose your own adventure” concert experience—audience members have the freedom to decide how they want to enjoy the music. Whether that means moving around, vocalizing, using sensory supports, or simply sitting back and listening, everyone is welcome to participate on their own terms. Adaptive Concerts also often include additional accessibility supports, including ASL (both spoken and musical), sensory support items, accessible web-based resources, supports for Blind and partially sighted attendees, and adaptations to musical programming, audience engagement, and communication. We’ll cover these topics in more detail in future posts. 

A Brief History of Accessible Concert Design in Canada

The story of Adaptive Concerts in Canada begins with Xenia Concerts, founded in 2014 by the Cecilia Quartet. The group was inspired by their experience performing at an autism-friendly concert with Azure Concerts in California. That experience sparked a vision: to bring similar concerts to Canada and offer families in the autism community the same access to high-quality live music that other audiences enjoy.

After a year of thoughtful consultation with people with lived experience, caregivers, and healthcare experts, Xenia launched the first Canadian concert series dedicated primarily to the needs and tastes of autistic attendees. The response was overwhelmingly positive—and the demand has only grown since. Today, Xenia Concerts presents 30–35 Adaptive Concerts every year in communities across Canada, and we’ve expanded our approach to accommodate a broader spectrum of needs for Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent attendees. Inspired by this model, several other organizations have started their own Adaptive Concert series, including Chamberfest in Ottawa, Cecilia Concerts in Halifax, and Honens in Calgary. Relaxed Performances (similar to Adaptive Concerts in many ways) and accessibility-centred programs are also proliferating through the efforts of many organizations, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, l’Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, the National Ballet of Canada, and The National Arts Centre Orchestra. Together, these organizations are working towards a national culture of greater inclusion in live music.

From “Sensory-Friendly” to “Adaptive”

You might have heard the term “sensory-friendly concerts.” Xenia used this term from 2014 to 2022, and many organizations still use it today. The sensory-friendly movement began as a way to make performances more accessible for neurodiverse audiences—particularly within the autism community—by addressing diverse sensory needs.

However, as the field evolved, so did the understanding of accessibility. The term “Adaptive Concert” was coined by Dr. Erin Parkes, founder and Executive Director of The Lotus Centre, to reflect a broader vision of inclusion and to convey the importance of adaptability, both in the approach to concert design and at the events themselves. Accessibility, after all, is not limited to sensory experiences, and no concert can truly be “friendly” to everyone’s individual sensory preferences. An “adaptive” concert, however, can meet a variety of sensory, physical, and communication-related needs while providing opportunities for attendees to meet their own needs within the concert space. The language will likely continue to evolve, but the term “Adaptive Concert” encapsulates our current approach well.

The Evolution of Accessible Concert Design

Today’s accessible concert design takes a holistic approach, considering not just sensory needs but also physical, socio-cultural, geographical, age-related, and communication-related factors. Organizations like Xenia Concerts are continually experimenting with new ways to address unmet access needs through community engagement and iterative design.

At the heart of this evolution is one simple principle: choice. Adaptive Concerts are about giving audiences the freedom to decide how they want to participate—to choose for themselves what accessibility means in each moment. That’s why we call them adaptive: they adapt to each person’s needs, from individual to individual, and even from moment to moment during the performance.

Looking Ahead

Xenia Concerts is just one part of a larger movement toward accessibility in the arts. Many organizations—both longstanding and new—are now making inclusion a priority, and accessibility conversations are becoming more central in creative spaces across the country.

We’ve made great progress, but there’s still work to be done. With each new Adaptive Concert, we’re expanding our circle of inclusion and discovering new ways to make music a truly universal experience.

Stay tuned for the next post in this series, where we’ll start to explore how to design your own Adaptive Concert and make your events more inclusive!

This innovative research tackles a vital question: How can performing arts organizations better engage neurodivergent and disabled audiences in sharing their experiences? Traditional feedback methods often overlook the voices of children and youth with disabilities. In response, Xenia Concerts and CERC-HECW piloted creative, accessible alternatives—including interactive card-sorting activities, collaborative storyboards, and interview booths—during Xenia’s Adaptive concerts in 2024.

The study’s findings highlight how adaptive feedback tools not only capture richer insights but also foster agency, belonging, and joy for participants. The research marks an important step toward inclusive, participant-centered arts programming.

You can explore the full report by clicking this link: LINK TO STUDY

Researchers/Authors:

Danielle Licorish
Temba Middelmann
Eshtar Taha
Rory McLeod

Funders/Supporters

Xenia Concerts is delighted to announce the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors: Daniel Ashworth and Jillian Turman!​

Daniel Ashworth, Director

Daniel’s passion for music and advocacy for disability and civil rights has charted a remarkable path in his career. He is Currently pursuing a career as an Accessibility Specialist for music festivals through his project, Access In Excess, Dan’s mission to make it so more people can find similar joy and community he found through music without having to be met with systemic and ableist barriers. 

Daniel’s mission is to ensure that more individuals can experience the joy and community found in music without encountering systemic and ableist barriers. ​xeniaconcerts.com

Jillian Turman, Director

Jillian brings a wealth of experience in accessibility advocacy to Xenia Concerts, and volunteers with a number of organizations to that end. She is especially passionate about her involvement with the Terry Fox foundation and QuickStart Early Years, and now as a member of Xenia Concerts Board of Directors.

Daniel and Jillian’s combined expertise and passion for accessibility in the arts will be instrumental in guiding Xenia Concerts’ mission to create inclusive concert experiences for the neurodiversity and disability communities. We warmly welcome Daniel and Jillian to the Xenia Concerts family and look forward to the positive impact they will bring to our organization! Welcome Daniel and Jillian!

If you want to learn more about Daniel and Jillian, read through their full biographies on our Board of Directors page!

READ THEIR FULL BIOS

We’ve got big news at Xenia Concerts. After two and a half years of piloting our Artist Training Program with over 100 artists, we are now ready to offer it to musicians around the world!

We started this project for one simple reason: they don’t teach this stuff in music school. Musicians train for thousands of hours to hone their craft, but don’t necessarily learn about the diverse considerations that go into planning an accessible, neurodiversity-friendly performance. We are filling that gap.

The training helps artists understand a diverse spectrum of abilities and sensory experiences so that they can design events that are inclusive and welcoming for neurodiverse audiences. Our long-term vision is to help artists and arts organizations across Canada make their concert experiences more neurodiversity- and disability-friendly.

Program Overview:

-3.5 hours of pre-recorded webinars, with reflection questions for each of the 7 modules
-A one-hour synchronous discussion session with Erin Parkes, Kaylce Carter, Rory McLeod, and Bruce Petherick
-A guidebook on how to design and deliver accessible, inclusive musical programming
-Support in planning your own adaptive concert program

Artists learn about…

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.

Special thanks to those who helped develop, fund, and deliver this program: Erin Parkes, Bruce Petherick, Kaylce Carter, and TO Live

To learn more or register, visit https://xenia-concerts.learnworlds.com/course/xenia-artist-training-program

We are proud to announce three amazing new partnerships that expand the ways that Xenia Concerts brings exceptional performing arts experiences to our audiences, connects communities, and fosters accessibility!

Music Toronto

We’re working with Music Toronto to deliver the Xenia Concerts Artist Training program to the resident musicians in their COSE program. This training will help them design and deliver neuro- and ability-inclusive programming throughout their performing careers. 

CNIB

We’re working with the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) to train Xenia staff and incorporate new accessibility accommodations into our concert designs for Blind and partially-sighted individuals. Together, we’re also creating new artist training materials and improving Xenia’s web accessibility. Thank you to the CNIB for helping us make our events more accessible!

City of Mississauga

We’re working with the City of Mississauga to present two Adaptive Concerts at The Living Arts Centre in 2025, featuring Kathak music and dance ensemble Pratibha Arts and the Canadian Chamber Orchestra. These are our first presentations in Mississauga, and hopefully the first of many!

Xenia Concerts thrives on collaboration! Did you know that in addition to our many presenting partnerships, Xenia Concerts provides:

• Accessibility consulting for arts organizations
• Educational workshops to empower artists and arts workers with knowledge of accessibility

We’re always eager to explore new ideas and partnerships, and we work with organizations across Canada. If you have an initiative or project in mind, let’s talk!

Reach out to us and let’s create something extraordinary together.

Xenia Concerts is a Toronto-based organization with a national mandate, dedicated to creating inclusive concert experiences for diverse communities. The organization is best known for the creation and ongoing direction of an Adaptive Concert series that welcomes and supports neurodivergent and disabled attendees, especially children, youth, and families. 

As a member of the Xenia Concerts Board, you will play a vital role in guiding our organization’s mission to make live music accessible to those who face social and systemic barriers to inclusion. Our concerts are tailored for neurodiverse audiences, families, and individuals who may benefit from sensory-friendly environments. We believe in breaking down barriers and celebrating music’s power to bring people together.

To complement the existing skill set on the Board, the ideal candidate will have experience in accessibility advocacy and/or fundraising; knowledge of human resources and digital marketing are considered an asset. Board members are expected to attend regular meetings, contribute to strategic planning, and support fundraising initiatives. 

Xenia Concerts is committed to improving equity both within its institution and across the performing arts sector. Applicants from all equity-seeking communities are encouraged to apply, including, but not limited to, those who identify as neurodivergent, D/deaf or disabled, Black, Indigenous, and people of colour, recognizing that both lived and learned experiences will inform the success of this role. At all levels of the organization, Xenia Concerts promotes equal opportunity, fair treatment, and the elimination of barriers for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Xenia Concerts is committed to making the interview process as accessible as possible. If you require accommodations during the selection and interview process, please include your requests with your application materials. Examples include, but are not limited to, ASL interpretation, receiving questions in advance, closed captions, and adjusting the pace of speech during the interview.

If you are passionate about accessibility in the arts and want to make a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply!

Click the link below for the full posting and instructions on how to apply. If you have questions, please send an email to board@xeniaconcerts.com or call 437-441-7543.

We talked with Natalie Harmsen about our how we’re improving and redefining accessibility, one concert at a time and creating an inclusive experience for music lovers.

Check out the link below!

https://www.cbc.ca/music/xenia-concerts-live-music-accessibility-1.7260881

Now that the council meetings have concluded, we’re pleased to present Xenia ASD Youth Advisory Council Final Report! In this report, we summarize how the ASD YAC members drew on their own lived experience and knowledge to provide input on autism-friendly concert design. This project reinforces the importance of placing ASD voices at the centre of decision-making, an important aspect of Xenia’s inclusive approach to concert design.

During the council meeting process, the five YAC members shared insights from their own lived experience to shape the design of the two neuro-inclusive concerts. This report details the process, key questions, objectives, and outcomes, providing valuable information for Xenia and other concert planners aiming to enhance engagement with neurodiverse audiences. Whether you’re thinking of presenting a neuro-inclusive event or designing your own community engagement process for Autistic youth, we believe you’ll find plenty of useful information in the report.

Click the button below to read the full report, share it widely, and let us know what you think!

Thanks to Our Supporters

This project was funded in part by Unity for Autism.

Happy New Year! As Xenia Concerts enters 2024, we’re pleased to present you with our detailed Strategic Plan and our Case for Support. 

Xenia Concerts is in a phase of growth and discovery. Having continued to deliver exceptional programming during the COVID-19 pandemic and emerged stronger than before, our organization remains financially stable, with solid, trusting partnerships, and a pool of talented musicians who love performing for our audiences. 

Now at the beginning of 2024, Xenia Concerts is well positioned to lead the way to a more accessible and inclusive future in the performing arts.

Read on to find out more about our plans in 2024-2025!

Strategic Plan

Our Strategic Plan is a roadmap of how Xenia will evolve over the next two years to expand our impact and further our Mission and Vision. After identifying Xenia’s unique strategic position, the Strategic Plan lays out our Objectives, Key results, and Initiatives, along with explanations of how the organizational structure will evolve over the next two years. If you want to know where Xenia is headed in 2024-2025, this is a great place to find out.

Case for Support

Our Case for Support outlines Xenia’s mandate and highlights key facts and statistics about our organization. It tells the story of why the work we do is so important and explains our unique position in the arts landscape. You’ll also find useful facts and figures, including the number of concerts we present and how many people attend, feedback from audience members and artists about our programs, a financial overview, and more. If you know a person or an organization that might be interested in supporting the neurodiversity and disability communities through Xenia Concerts, please share the Case for Support with them!