The traditional standards of ability and expression in classical music have often overlooked diverse perspectives. Such practices have helped create systemic inequalities that are still profoundly entrenched; recent findings from the Musicians’ Census reveal that 71% of disabled musicians have faced or witnessed discrimination, with 19% reporting it as a significant barrier to career progression. Such systemic exclusion not only hampers individual careers but also limits the diversity and richness of the industry itself. I spoke to musicians living with disabilities about their experiences performing and perceiving classical music.
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