The University of North Dakota’s Department of Music initiated a new series, the Sensory Family Concert Series, at the Christus Rex Campus Center. The “Spectrum of Sounds: Music Without Barriers” event, held on April 5, was designed to accommodate individuals with sensory conditions. The event was organized by Ling Lo, a teaching assistant professor of Collaborative Piano at UND, with support from UND CONNECT, an initiative promoting community-based research and development projects.
Lo expressed her emotions during the event, stating, “For the first half-hour, I was super emotional, and I couldn’t stop crying,” adding that the open environment allowed audience members to move and sing freely. With experience from past sensory-friendly programs, Lo emphasized the impact music has as a universal language. “There’s nothing but pure expression,” she remarked.
The concert, featuring UND students and guest artists, included interactive and sensory-friendly elements like fidget toys and sound-buffering headphones. Highlights included a four-hand piano duet and a Disney medley performed by guests Sangmi Lim and Dino Mulic. The audience participated through singing, clapping, and dancing, leading Mulic to observe, “The audience had a bigger role than just us.”
Feedback from the community reinforced the concert’s purpose, bridging classical music with a broader audience and reducing perceived barriers. Future plans include hosting similar concerts each semester to continue fostering this inclusive environment.
Lo remarked on the success of the event: “Everything was beyond what I could have imagined. This is what musicians do. We spread joy, and if we can’t do that, then why do we play?” The event’s meaningful impact was echoed by students, including Isaac Anderson, who narrated during the concert. Observing the audience’s positive reaction, Anderson reflected, “It reminds me of why I make music in the first place.”
Several students voiced personal connections and appreciations for the unique concert setting. Emily Chasowy and others noted the event’s inclusive atmosphere as both beneficial for current enjoyment and future educational practices. The unanimous sentiment was that the concert provided a refreshing, accessible way to experience music without traditional constraints.
