Transforming Communities

LMN musicians perform in Abu Dhabi's Future Center for Special Needs

Flute and percussion duo Flercussion traveled to Abu Dhabi in October 2013 to deliver participative performances and workshops at the Future Center for Special Needs. Over the course of a week, LMN put on 24 workshops and a training session for 50 teachers. There was also a shared performance involving 90 children with special educational needs, attended by His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development and Chairman of The Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF).

The performances were the result of a partnership between ADMAF and LMN's international development programme.

After a busy week, Flercussion said: "The performance by the kids was something so touching, we'll never forget it… it was an amazing week and certainly a highlight of my career so far!"

Photo courtesy of ADMAF
HE Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan praised the outstanding level of the performance, saying: "Art education events contribute in launching and establishing the mechanisms of creative thinking among this community while we try our best to provide it with opportunities for an active and innovative social integration through these leading educational events".

Carol Main, LMN's Director of International Development, said: "Live Music Now is thrilled to be working once again with ADMAF as a partner in its education and outreach activity with special needs children in Abu Dhabi. The young professional musicians who are part of Live Music Now are highly experienced and trained in working with children and young people with a range of disabilities and greatly appreciate this unique opportunity to extend the reach of their work internationally."