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Decoding Cultural Leadership
Decoding Cultural Leadership is a podcast that explores the intersection between the arts, culture and society and interrogates what it means to be a cultural leader in the 21st century.
In each episode, host Samuel Cairnduff talks with some of the most influential organisational leaders, creators, policy-makers and thought leaders, building an understanding of their approach to shifting the dial in a complex, constantly changing world.
By talking to influential leaders whose voices resonate in the community, Decoding Cultural Leadership seeks to gain a deeper perspective on how cultural organisations see their role in the community, how they make hard decisions, and how they address the needs of multiple stakeholders.
Culture and society are deeply connected. Decoding Cultural Leadership explores this complex relationship through deep conversation with our greatest cultural leaders. Join us as we decode cultural leadership.
Decoding Cultural Leadership.
Culture. Society. Conversations
Decoding Cultural Leadership
Episode 48: RESONATE Participants - Young musicians leading change in neurodivergent-inclusive classical music
This episode marks a departure from our usual format as we delve into an initiative close to my heart: RESONATE, a programme I've developed with the Australian Youth Orchestra through my consultancy. Rather than interviewing established cultural leaders, we're hearing directly from the next generation of classical musicians who are actively reshaping the industry from within.
In this participant-led conversation, violist and composer Sophia Mackson, harpist and composer Paul Nicolaou, and French horn player Milly McAuliffe engage in a candid discussion about neurodivergence in orchestral music. Facilitated by Julia Hill, these four young musicians don't just theorise about inclusion - they're living it, advocating for it, and creating new models for how classical music can embrace neurodivergent artists and audiences.
What You'll Hear
The conversation moves seamlessly between personal experiences and practical solutions, covering:
- Understanding neurodivergence - Moving beyond stereotypes to recognise the full spectrum of ADHD, autism, and other conditions, and how they manifest differently in each individual
- Executive dysfunction in practice - How time blindness, motivation challenges, and decision-making difficulties affect everything from daily practice routines to orchestral rehearsals
- Navigating orchestral etiquette - The unspoken rules that can be particularly challenging for neurodivergent musicians, from section hierarchy to break room dynamics
- Transformative teaching approaches - How supportive educators like Patricia Pollet and Alice Giles create inclusive learning environments by adapting to individual needs rather than enforcing rigid methods
- Innovative performance design - Paul's groundbreaking "Elemental Resonance" concert, which used sensory elements to create accessible experiences for neurodivergent, elderly, and young audiences
- Institutional culture change - Why policies aren't enough when workplace culture remains exclusionary, and how freelance networking disadvantages neurodivergent musicians
- The diagnosis journey - Honest accounts of seeking assessment, facing dismissive healthcare providers, and the validation that comes with understanding oneself
- Workplace accommodations - From access riders to adequate break times, practical strategies that benefit all musicians whilst supporting specific needs
Key Insights
"I think accessibility and accommodations should be the baseline... should be a fundamental in rehearsals, but also just talking to people." - Sophia Mackson
"The effort that organisations are putting in isn't for this one tiny group, it's for everyone, which includes this tiny group." - Paul Nicolaou
"Just assume that there is someone in your ensemble that is neurodivergent. We know the statistics mean that's incredibly likely, if not certain." - Milly McAuliffe
"Your experiences are valid and they're real... you know yourself better than anyone else." - Paul Nicolaou
Why This Matters
This conversation represents a generational shift in classical music. These musicians aren't waiting for permission to create change - they're com
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Presenter and research: Sam Cairnduff
Creative Director: Niloofar Pashmforoosh
Presented in association with Limelight
Decoding Cultural Leadership |
Culture. Society. Conversations