Nine neurodiverse musicians from Arts and Cultural Exchange’s (ACE) Club Weld Attitude program will join members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) for a one-night-only performance, ACO X Club Weld, on Friday, November 7.

Staged at the ACO’s harbourside home, ACO On The Pier in Sydney’s Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, the concert marks the culmination of an artistic partnership celebrating collaboration, inclusion and the power of diverse voices in music.

Pasko Schravemade, Oliver Baker, Jack Ward, Beth Condon, Charlie Westhoff and Patrick Li. Photo © V. Harbutt

Audiences can expect an eclectic program of original works by Club Weld artists, reimagined with new string arrangements by ACO musicians and featuring several guest performers. The concert will traverse a range of genres – from neo-classical piano and jazz-inspired instrumentals to country, folk, pop, electronic and R&B/soul – showcasing the creativity of neurodiverse artists alongside one of the world’s most acclaimed chamber ensembles.

“We’re finally beginning to hear a proper diversity of voices (and lived experiences) in Australian music – a deeper, truer range of people than ever before,” said music journalist Doug Wallen.

Charlie Westhoff and Sienna Acquaro. Photo © Tammy Dang

Established in 2015, Club Weld provides neurodiverse and disabled musicians with opportunities to create, record and perform their own music while developing professional pathways in the industry. Its ongoing collaborations, including this latest partnership with the ACO, aim to ensure artists with disabilities are recognised as professionals with equal rights to pursue musical careers.

ACO X Club Weld, Friday, November 7, at The Neilson, ACO On The Pier.  Tickets are $25, with accessible tickets available for $10 and free companion entry. For bookings and information, visit this link.