Inclusive music program for children with disability wins at the 2025 Melbourne Awards

Eleven people stand with an award at an awards ceremony — Dr Anthea Skinner (centre) with Adaptive Music Bridging Program team members and Faculty staff at the Melbourne Awards. Image supplied.

A University of Melbourne research program run in conjunction with Melbourne Youth Orchestras (MYO), the Adaptive Music Bridging Program, has won the Access and Inclusion Award at the 2025 Melbourne Awards.

Led by researcher Dr Anthea Skinner and musical directors Dr Leon de Bruin and Zoë Kalenderidis from the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, the program supports children with a disability to use adaptive musical instruments to develop their musical knowledge and skills, preparing them for futures in mainstream music programs and ensembles.

The program assists children to choose, adapt or design a suitable musical instrument and provides their first music lessons, focusing on technique, creativity, music literacy and performance etiquette.

The program launched in February 2023, and has now supported three cohorts of students ranging from 8 to 14 years old. Graduates for the program are supported to join MYO’s mainstream ensembles or other school or community groups.

Program facilitator Dr Anthea Skinner said the team was honoured to receive the award.

“It’s so exciting to see the kids develop and progress with their musical skills,” Dr Skinner said. “They don’t just learn to play notes, become performers who are eager to get on stage and represent their community.”

“This year our senior students even composed and performed a song of their own. When I was growing up, I loved playing music, but I was always the only obviously disabled kid in every youth band and orchestra I played in. My team and I work to make sure that today’s generation of disabled kids has better access to music education than my generation did.”

Professor Marie Sierra, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, said the award reflects the program’s commitment to reducing barriers to entry for young aspiring musicians living with disability.

“The Adaptive Music Bridging Program is an outstanding research project that empowers young people with disability to play music and helps researchers better understand their needs. I’m thrilled that the program has won at this year's Melbourne Awards, and I congratulate Anthea and her team on this fitting recognition of their work.”

Applications for the 2026 cohort of the Adaptive Music Bridging Program are currently open. Find out more about the program and how to apply.