In 2023, I had the privilege of volunteering and performing with the Felice Ensemble, an orchestra comprised of musicians with disabilities, at Carnegie Hall in New York. Before that experience, I believed communicating with individuals with autism and other disabilities would be challenging. However, playing alongside them in the orchestra shattered that misconception.

Despite the difficulties of verbal communication, we shared a universal language: music. Through eye contact during performances and our mutual interpretation of the music, we communicated in a way that transcended words. It was a form of connection more profound than anything I had ever experienced.

Since then, I have dedicated significant time to volunteering with individuals with various cognitive and physical disabilities. In the winter of 2023-2024, I earned my CADS (Canadian Adaptive Snow Sports) Level 1 Instructor qualification, allowing me to use my skills as a ski racer to teach people with disabilities how to ski. In the summer of 2024, I expanded my experience further by performing with the Winners Clarinet Ensemble in South Korea, a group of musicians with cognitive and physical disabilities.

These experiences have inspired me to help raise awareness for people with disabilities and create spaces where everyone can express themselves freely. Through music, I hope to give a voice to those who struggle with verbal communication and demonstrate the incredible power of inclusion and shared understanding.