Entrants from across the globe are challenged to develop instruments that can be played without the use of one hand and arm. It can be an adaptation of an existing instrument or an entirely new design, but must be capable of emulating a traditional instrument. The challenge is open to anyone and everyone who thinks they can meet the challenge.

See www.ohmi.org.uk for past winners

The winning designs are then used to make instruments playable for a range of disabilities and impairments. As new instruments become available, the OHMI Trust works to teach and promote their use to people previously excluded by their disability.

The competition has three categories:

  • Playable – for instruments playable without further development.
  • Concept – for ideas that need development
  • Enabling – for equipment that makes a standard instrument playable, such as a harness or stand.

Further details will be available from the 1st June:

https://www.ohmi.org.uk/competition-darr.html

Competition winners will be announced at the 2018 OHMI Conference & Awards on September 7th 2018: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/music-physical-disability-from-instrument-to-performance-tickets-42318989236

About OHMI Trust

The OHMI Trust is UK-based charity pioneering the development and adaptation of musical instruments for those who are physically disabled. The organisation was established in 2011 by Dr. Stephen Hetherington, who began his career as an orchestral musician. It was Stephen’s own hemiplegic daughter, Amy, who alerted him to the lack of instruments available to disabled musicians.

OHMI’s instruments are sourced primarily through the annual OHMI Competition. The challenge of the competition is to create or adapt instruments so they can be played without the use of one hand and arm and without limiting their potential for virtuosity. The winning technical solutions can then be reworked for a variety of physical disabilities.

The instruments and equipment OHMI has acquired can be seen on their website: www.ohmi.org.uk. They include many of the brass family, flutes, a clarinet, saxophones, a recorder, a guitar, and even bagpipes!

The OHMI trust collaborates closely with the national Music Hubs, schools, colleges and other many national charities.

Website: http://www.ohmi.org.uk/

Twitter: @TheOHMITrust