After weeks of preparation, our performers took to the stage in front of more than 250 people for a night filled with talent, creativity, and connection. The concert was a celebration of inclusion, courage, and the joy of making music together.
Each performance was unique — from original songs and classic covers to group ensembles and heartfelt solos. What shone through was the confidence and personality of every performer, and the way the audience was swept up in the energy of the evening.
We’re excited to share these highlights with you. Each video captures just a glimpse of the magic that made this concert so special. Scroll through to see every performer have their moment to shine.
The Green Happy Ukuleles
The Green Happy Ukuleles is our Saturday morning group, with members Ben, Celeste, Anushi, and Arthur, supported by their music therapists Sebastian Green and Iani Sujono.
Over the past year, the group has been learning to work together as a team — especially when it comes to building confidence, taking turns and listening to one another.
At the concert, they performed Lean On Me. Ben played the ukulele, adding a few extra bars to give Iani time to pass the microphone between singers. Celeste, Anushi, and Arthur each sang their own parts: Celeste practised staying quiet when it wasn’t her turn, Arthur found the courage to sing with confidence, and Anushi learnt to regulate her excitement to stay cool, calm and collected for her verses.
It was such a wonderful display of teamwork and growth — what an achievement for this group!
Joshua
In his cover of “Viva la Vida”, Joshua showcased his amazing vocal talent for the first time as a complete soloist, supported by his music therapist Grace Elliott. In the lead up to the concert, Joshua showed absolute dedication to honing his skills on piano so that he could demonstrate his ever-increasing capacity to coordinate playing and singing at the same time. What an achievement!
M Nation
M Nation (also known as Music Nation) is made up of 3 lovely girls: Constance, Marianne, and Simra. With a mutual love for music, this trio meets weekly to share their new favourite songs and make music together, supported by their music therapist Samantha Lee-Shipley.
Although performing on stage was initially nerve wracking for these girls, Constance, Marianne, and Simra supported each other right up to the performance, sharing an embrace and positive affirmations to one another just seconds before walking onto stage.
Their support and understanding for one another was beautifully reflected in their performance of Pink Pony Club. Simra grounded the group with her drumming and backing vocals, Marianne kept the song flowing with her piano playing, and Constance’s singing and guitar playing tied the song together.
Jayden
Jayden came to life onstage with his fantastic performance of the Spanish song, “Me Guia El”, celebrating his Colombian heritage. Initially unsure of using the microphone, Jayden rose to the challenge of singing in front of an audience, supported by his music therapist Grace Elliott. Showing dedication to learning the song on the piano and sticking to the plan, Jayden followed through and delivered a performance to be proud of.
David
David‘s performance of a mashup of two songs – Count On Me & Feel It Still – was supported by his music therapist Sebastian Green.
Through music therapy sessions leading up to the performance, David developed his musical repertoire and ability to play with others on the piano. This increased David’s confidence both on the day and in his everyday life – promoting development of his social skills, ability to discuss his feelings as well as his interest and use of music as a safe & motivating outlet to regulate his emotions.
David put these skills to use on the day; discussing his anticipation (and some nerves) with others, then committing to giving the songs his all when he came up on stage!
Tahlee
Tahlee is an incredibly talented young woman with a natural gift for music—especially when it comes to rhythm. At the Abilities concert, she took to the drums alongside her music therapist Pete McDonald, not just to perform, but to practice something bigger: using her musical strengths to support others.
One of Tahlee’s goals in music therapy has been learning how to share her musical “voice” in a way that uplifts and connects with fellow musicians. During the performance, she showed how powerful that can be – listening closely, locking into the groove, and making space for others to shine. Tahlee creates her own music with ease and passion, and now she’s exploring how to bring that same creativity into collaborative spaces.
Watching her grow in this way has been exciting, and we’re thrilled to keep supporting her as she uses her music to inspire and empower those around her.
Saturday Musical Stars
Saturday Musical Stars has five members, all with very different personalities and musical strengths. For this group the performance was not about showcasing musical talent — it was about learning to collaborate, listen, and sometimes let go of “do it my way” in order to create something together as a group.
Supported by their music therapists Rob Devlin and Iani Sujono, they performed Passacaglia with each person contributing a part that showcased their skills and supported the whole group. Tahlee, Andreas (Dre), Hannah, Jeremy, and Karuka showed just how powerful collaboration can be when everyone plays their part.
Olivia Hill is a talented singer and songwriter.
Olivia uses songwriting as an expressive medium, enabling her to connect with her inner self and then with the wider community, through performance and online song uploads.
In her performance of her original song Home of Joy, Olivia shares the notion of repetition and feeling safe in the familiar as a way to regulate through her choice of musical structure, instrumentation, lyrics, and dynamic expression. This became a central theme to the preparation of her performance as a whole, using strategies to regulate while rehearsing and prior to her performance.
Supported by her music therapist Samantha Lee-Shipley, Olivia embraced the opportunity to perform in front of a large audience with confidence, resulting in a touching, heartfelt performance.
Adem
Adem is a passionate drummer who brings strong positive energy and heart to everything he plays. In music therapy, one of the main goals has been to help him use that strength to connect with others — and he’s really starting to shine.
In this concert, Adem performed with his music therapist Pete McDonald and student music therapist Anna Khan, practicing how to tune in to the group and let his drumming support the music around him. He has been working on listening, adjusting his playing to match ‘the vibe,’ and finding those moments where he can lift others up with his rhythm.
Adem certainly has great musical talent, and now we’re focusing on helping him feel confident stepping into community music spaces where his playing doesn’t just stand out — it helps everyone come together.
Tuesday On My Mind
Tuesday On My Mind is our Tuesday morning group at Sound Expression, supported by their music therapist Pete McDonald. In their “mashup” performance of four songs, each member rose to the occasion:
Selena, on bass and vocals, who is full of energy, worked on matching her energy to those around her, locking in musically with them.
Claudio, also full of energy and passion for the drum kit, kept the group in time and utilized his creativity with his drum fills.
George brought great support and cohesion to the group with his steady acoustic guitar and vocals, and Andy, also on acoustic guitar and vocals, showcased his increased capacity to sing and engage with the group and the music.
Well done to the Tuesday On My Mind team!
Funky Ducks
Funky Ducks is our Saturday afternoon group — a close-knit team who are learning to work with each other’s differences and personalities, supported by their music therapists Rob Devlin and Iani Sujono.
In their performance “Good Time”, each member rose to the occasion: Oscar, who is often full of ideas, focused on sticking to the plan; Daniel, full of energy, managed to stay at the microphone to sing his part; and Leo built up the courage to sing the bridge as a solo while all eyes were on him. Brandon was feeling shy but he confidently played the piano alongside Oscar. Zeb adapted to an unexpected change during the performance, showing great flexibility and Xavier, the youngest in the group, bravely stepped into the spotlight and showed that he could contribute in a bigger group setting.
It was a true team effort, and the Funky Ducks shone brightly on stage!
Constance
In her enchanting performance of “The Robin”, Constance transported the audience to another time with her delicate and emotive vocals, supported by her music therapist Grace Elliott. While simultaneously singing and strumming the ukulele, she was able to shake away her nerves and deliver a beautiful and melodic performance that highlighted her extraordinary creative talents.
The Bubble Teas
Evan and Ethan, also known as The Bubble Teas, performed Viva La Vida as the final piece of the concert evening—an exciting and meaningful moment for both of them. For Evan, this performance was about stepping out of his comfort zone and building confidence performing as part of a group in front of more than 250 people. Ethan, meanwhile, had been looking forward to this moment since our last concert eight years ago! He closed that concert back then and has dreamed of doing it again ever since. This time, his goals included maintaining focus and perseverance—committing to one song choice and following through with the group arrangement. He also needed to multitask – singing and playing the guitar at the same time. Supported by their music therapist Rob Devlin, both Evan and Ethan rose to the occasion beautifully, ending the concert on a high note!
Andreas
Andreas (Dre) performed Don’t Worry Be Happy with his music therapist Rob Devlin. This performance was more than just music—it was a chance for Dre to put into practice several of his therapy goals. He multi-tasked by playing the cello while singing, showing his ability to coordinate and manage two complex skills at once. He also demonstrated strong focus and concentration, regulating his energy so that he could remain cool, calm and collected throughout the performance. These are skills he continues to develop in therapy, and it was wonderful to see him transfer them onto the stage.
Jeremy
Jeremy has been learning piano with Rob Devlin at Sound Expression, and this concert was a milestone moment for him. For the very first time, he performed two piano pieces independently, showing the confidence and skill he has been working so hard to build.
One of Jeremy’s challenges is regulating his energy when anxious, and at the concert he demonstrated great progress—overcoming nerves, staying focused, and carrying out his performance from start to finish. The audience’s warm applause said it all, and his priceless smile at the end showed that he knew he had truly kicked some goals!
Bernard (Paddy)
Paddy touched every heart in the audience with his moving rendition of Monsters, supported by his music therapist Rob Devlin. This performance marked a real step forward in his self-expression and confidence. While Paddy has always enjoyed playing the piano, adding singing was a whole new challenge—one that required him to build courage and trust in his own voice. His longer-term goal is to one day perform gigs for the public, perhaps as a side job, and this concert was a big step in that direction. Beautiful work, Paddy!
