Welcome to the Xenia Concerts Artist Training Program

Xenia Concerts Artist Training Program 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

4 hours of pre-recorded webinars

Reflection questions to support your learning

Guidelines on how to design and deliver accessible, inclusive musical programming

Module topics include: 

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 Attendees: How to adapt your approach and add accessibility features for the unique needs of Blind and partially sighted attendees (developed in partnership with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind)


SAMPLE ARTIST TRAINING MODULES

1. Webinar Introduction

Get to know the Xenia Concerts story, meet Rory McLeod & Erin Parkes, and find out what you'll learn!

2. Barriers to Inclusion

What are some of the barriers that keep people from attending a typical concert?

3. Disability & Disability-related Language

What is a disability? What is the Social Vs Medical Models of disability? What kind of language
do you/should you use?


Meet Your Artist Training Program Team

Write your awesome label here.

Rory McLeod

Executive and Artistic Director of Xenia Concerts

As Executive & Artistic Director of Xenia Concerts, Rory works with stakeholders in the disability and neurodiversity community, presenting partners, and performing artists to co-create concert experiences that are inclusive for people who face social and systemic barriers to inclusion. 
Write your awesome label here.

Erin Parkes

PhD, Founder of The Lotus Centre for Special Music Education

Erin founded Lotus Centre in 2012 based on a passionate belief that people of all abilities have a right to learn and experience music in an environment that meets their needs.
Write your awesome label here.

Kaylce Carter

Accessibility Coordinator of Xenia Concerts

 Kaylce’s work focuses on disability justice, anti-racism, co-design, curriculum design, collective care, and unpacking the institutional, social, and material effects that race, gender, disability, and class and their intersections have on our collective lives. 
Write your awesome label here.

Bruce Petherick

Musician, creator of Acoustic Spaces; Xenia Artist Training Advisor

Bruce Petherick is a neurodiverse (ASD) musician, and a creator of Acoustic Spaces living in Calgary. He has performed music around the world playing various styles from Classical, Jazz, to Musical Theatre
Meet Your Artist Training Program Team
Do you have any questions? Would you like to know more?

Please send us an email at info@xeniaconcerts.com or call us at 437-441-7543


Xenia provides an excellent, comprehensive, and welcoming approach to supporting artists in their learning and community engagement! It was such a wonderful learning experience to participate in the artist training program, and it has been so lovely working with the incredible team members!
— SarahRose Black, Xenia Artist & Music Therapist
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, Xenia Artist
It was a wonderful experience, and a very emotional one as well. Getting to share our music with different audience members and being trained to do it in a safe, and respectful way was a very special experience, and I am grateful to have been able to have this opportunity to learn and grow as a human.
— Joanna Yesol Choi, Xenia Workshop Participant, Cellist, Dior String Quartet
Thank you!

Xenia Concerts

  • info@xeniaconcerts.com
  • 437-441-7543
Copyright © 2025
Created with