Events archive (2019–present)
Since 2019, Aural Diversity has developed through concerts, conferences, workshops, and invited contributions. This page documents those activities and links to programmes, recordings, videos, and related materials where available.
Aural Diversity events
Concerts and performances
An Aural Diversity concert is not a traditional music concert but an immersive music experience made by and for people with different hearing profiles. It is governed by a set of conventions. There are many ways to experience the music, including streaming to hearing technologies, signed and visual interpretations, remote listening, vibrating floors, tactile and motion devices, and more.
The linked pages contain programmes, recordings, videos, and photographic documentation.
- Concert 1 — 6 July 2019, The Old Barn, Kelston Roundhill (near Bath, UK)
- Concert 2 — 30 November 2019, Attenborough Arts Centre, Leicester
- Concert 3 — 21 January 2023, Attenborough Arts Centre, Leicester
Conferences
The first Aural Diversity Conference brought together academic papers, artists’ statements, performances, and demonstrations.
- Conference 1 — 30 November–1 December 2019, University of Leicester (George Davies Centre & Attenborough Arts Centre)
The LAURA Centre at University of Salford held its first Aural Diversity Conference, featuring a keynote by Prof Pamela Heaton, a paper by Prof John Drever on the emergence of Auraldiversity, and papers by an array of PhD students and researchers.
- Aural Diversity Conference — 5 September 2025, University of Salford
AHRC network workshops (2019–2023)
The Aural Diversity Network ran five workshops as part of AHRC-funded activity. The links below take you to the full programme, speakers, and supporting materials for each workshop. This Events page also provides a thematic video index further down for quick browsing across the whole series.
- Workshop 1: Hearing Care and Hearing Technologies — University of Leeds, 1–2 September 2021. Led by Dr Alinka Greasley.
- Workshop 2: Hearing Sciences and the Arts and Humanities — Universities of Leeds and Nottingham, 13 January 2022. Led by Dr Alinka Greasley.
- Workshop 3: Acoustics and Psychoacoustics — University of Salford, 26–27 May 2022. Led by Prof Bill Davies.
- Workshop 4: Soundscape and Sound Studies — Goldsmiths, University of London & Queen Mary University of London, 15–16 September 2022. Led by Prof John Drever / Prof Josh Reiss.
- Workshop 5: Music and Performance — University of Leicester & Attenborough Arts Centre, 21–22 January 2023. Led by Prof Andrew Hugill.
Presentations & talks (video archive)
Recorded presentations from the Aural Diversity workshop series, organised by theme. Where possible, titles link directly to video files.
Tip: for each talk, the workshop pages provide the fuller context (programme, session framing, and related materials).
Acoustics and environmental design
- Neil S Bruce (Manchester Metropolitan University). Are we hearing the same soundscape? Who's listening, how, and to what?
- Mattia Cobianchi, Carmen Rosas Perez, Dan Pope, Francesca Fazio. Participatory design in practice — experiences from existing projects
- William J. Davies (University of Salford). Aural diversity in acoustics research
- Michael de Beer (Kuiper Compagnons / TU Delft). A Sonic — reflecting on the socio-spatial significance of soundscapes
- Alessia Frescura (University of Liverpool). Effect of non-acoustical factors on responses to sounds from neighbours…
- Jean Hewitt (Buro Happold). Developing standards for Neurodiversity and the Built Environment
- Jemma Jones (Arup). Acoustics and inclusive design for aural diversity
- Douglas MacCutcheon (Saint-Gobain Ecophon UK). How can we address aural diversity when designing learning environments?
- Andrew Mitchell, Francesco Aletta, Jian Kang (UCL / Alan Turing Institute). Soundscapy — analysis and visualisation for soundscape perceptions
- Bethan Prosser (University of Brighton). Listening-with: aural diversity and participatory listening research
- Toar Sadia (UCL). Exploring the Design Preferences of Neurodivergent Populations for Quiet Spaces
- Daniel Steele, Edda Bild, Iris Popescu. Using hearing to design more inclusive public spaces…
Audiology and hearing care
- Lena Batra (Full Circle Therapy). Beyond the audiogram; 3 people…3 stories
- Matthew Frost (Harley Street Hearing). “Are you deaf?” — a personal reflection from music industry to audiology clinic
- Matthew Frost (Harley Street Hearing). Musicians Accessing Audiology — barriers and facilitators
- Alinka Greasley (Chair), Matthew Frost, Samuel Couth. Discussion: approaches to musicians' hearing healthcare
- Rosalyn Parker (UHB NHS FT & PANDA PPIE). Delivering Hearing Research and Patient Involvement during Covid-19 and Beyond
- Peter Rea. Aural Diversity: the consequences of pathology and treatment — a surgeon's perspective
Aural Diversity theory
- John Drever (Goldsmiths). Paracusis Loci — Spatial Perception of Aural Diversity
- Andrew Hugill (University of Leicester). Aural Diversity infographic
- Jonathan Sterne (McGill University). How to Hear Impairment
Autism, hyperacusis and misophonia
- Mercede Erfanian (UCL). Misophonia: a peculiar sound sensitivity disorder
- Andrew Hugill (University of Leicester). An EEG-driven AI composition and performance system for autistic and/or d/Deaf musicians
- Carmen Rosas-Perez (Heriot-Watt University). Ears turned up to 11: Sound perception in autistic people
- Lauren Ward (University of York). Accessible audio for autistic individuals
- Hannah Guest (University of Manchester). Chasing the conversation: autistic experiences of speech perception
Hearing technologies
- Alfie Cliff. Localisation through Bone Conduction Audio
- Samuel Couth et al. (University of Manchester). Barriers to hearing protection use in musicians…
- Trevor Cox & Alinka Greasley. The Cadenza Project
- Heather Dowber (GNResound). Keeping Human Intelligence at the Heart of Innovation
- Meri Kytö. Listening with a machine: cochlear implant as a soundscape arranger
- Angeliki Mourgela (QMUL). Perceptually motivated, automated broadcast audio mixing for hearing loss
- Peggy Sylopp & Jan Rennies-Hochmuth. liketohear — qualitative study on individual sound adaptation behaviour
History and literature
- Ed Garland. How does reading affect the experience of Aural Diversity?
- Ed Garland. Textual hearing aids: how reading about sound can improve sonic experience
- Lewis Gittus (University of Melbourne). Sonic Ambiguities: exhuming gothic soundscapes
- Graeme Gooday & Karen Sayer. Alternatives to technocratic audiology — a historical survey
- Coreen McGuire (Durham University). Resistance and categorisation: construction of hearing loss through telephony…
- Tanvi Solanki (Yonsei University). Listening to difference: the BBC and the British Library's Listening Project
Music and sound art
- Jay Afrisando. “In Which to Trust?”: an artistic way of presenting aurally diverse listening experiences
- Beverly Biderman. Not just “marbles rolling around in a dryer”: cochlear implants and music
- Duncan Chapman. The Aural Diversity concerts: multimodal performance to an aurally diverse audience
- Christopher Cook. Musicking with mild cognitive impairment
- Samuel Couth. The show must go on…
- John Drever. ‘Primacy of the Ear’ — But whose Ear?
- Alinka Greasley. Exploring the music listening behaviour of people with hearing impairments…
- David Holzman. Deep River — Part 1 | Part 2
- Andrew Hugill. Aural Diversity — hearing differences and their consequences for music and musicians
- Ricardo Huisman. Inclusive tactile sonic sculpture installation: “The Bone Conductor”
- Russ Palmer & Stina Ojala. Concert-going experiences as a dual-sensory impaired person
- Matthew Spring. Digital versus analog: a lifetime of music making using hearing aids
- Liisa Sammalpenger. Music Performance Accessibility
- Ellen Waterman & Paula Bath. Reorienting aurality through bodily listening…
Exhibitions
In Conversation
Galerie im Turm, Berlin, presented In Conversation (Sept-Nov 2025), an exhibition by Jay Afrisando and others, which explored how different artists affected by access barriers communicate and create art.
Aural Diversity at other conferences
Noise Network Plus (NN+)
Members of the Aural Diversity Network have contributed to Noise Network Plus (NN+), a UK-wide initiative addressing environmental noise, policy, and standards. ADN participants have taken part in workshops and working groups, including the Inclusive Engineering, Policy, Law and Standards Working Group, contributing perspectives on hearing diversity and acoustic assessment.
Noise Network Plus (2023– ) is funded by UKRI to support research, policy dialogue, and interdisciplinary collaboration in environmental noise.
Soundways
The Soundways Dialogue Day at University of Nottingham included a keynote introduction to Aural Diversity, given by John Levack Drever.
CMMR 2025
The 17th International Symposium on Computer Music Multidisciplinary Research included a session on on ‘Cultivating Inclusion’, chaired by John Levack Drever.
Ubimus 2023
The 2023 International Symposium on Ubiquitous Music in Derry/Londonderry included an invited lecture on Aural Diversity, given by Andrew Hugill.
Internoise 2022 (Glasgow)
Internoise is a major international gathering of noise control engineers. In 2022 (Scottish Events Campus, Glasgow), it included a panel devoted to Aural Diversity, chaired by Andrew Hugill, with presentations by network members. Carmen Rosas-Pérez also won the Scottish Soundscape Prize (sponsored by Sustainable Acoustics and d&B audiotechnik).
Panel contributions
- Drever, J. L., Cobianchi, M. and Rosas-Pérez, C. (2022) Auraltypical acoustics? A critical review of acoustical foundations, standards and practices.
- Rosas-Pérez, C., Galbrun, L. (2022) Human diversity in acoustics. Towards a more inclusive sound environment.
- Davies, W. J. (2022) Can acoustic design accommodate aural diversity?
- Hugill, A. (2022) Aural Diversity: noise control and a sustainable future.
- Renel, W. (2022) Non-normative sonic space: exploring the divergent capacities of soundscape design in the built environment.
Prize
- Rosas-Pérez, C. (2022) Connecting to Nature (Soundscape installation) — winner of the Scottish Soundscape Prize.
UK Acoustics Network Annual Meeting 2022
Andrew Hugill introduced the concept of Aural Diversity and the infographic during the session “Maximising the impact of acoustics”.
Association of Noise Consultants Annual Conference 2022
The ANC is a trade association for acoustic, noise & vibration consultancy practices in the UK. Aural Diversity was presented by Andrew Hugill.
- Hugill, A. (2022) Aural Diversity (video).
Follow-up: Peter Rogers (Sustainable Acoustics) wrote afterwards that Aural Diversity should be considered when defining the “reasonable person” used in nuisance cases.
Royal Musical Association Annual Conference 2020
The RMA conference in 2020 included a panel on Aural Diversity:
- Christopher Cook: Musicking with mild cognitive impairment
- John Drever: ‘Primacy of the Ear’ — But whose Ear?
- Andrew Hugill: Aural Diversity — hearing differences and their consequences for music and musicians
- Meri Kytö: Listening with a machine: cochlear implant as a soundscape arranger
- Cook, Drever, Hugill and Kytö: Discussion following the panel