This Ability Through Music

Founded in 2008, Faith Music Centre is a social enterprise with a mission to impart persons with disability (physically handicapped, intellectually challenged, sensory impairment in visual and hearing, autism spectrum disorder) with skills in music and subsequently using these skills to perform in a variety of performances as a means to support themselves. Through Faith Music Centre’s programmes, persons with disability are able to become performers, assistant music instructors and stage masters.

The Azalea Band is nine-piece band whose members are persons with disability. It is led by its band mentor cum vocalist with hearing impairment, a second vocalist with physical disability, a 1st keyboardist on the autism spectrum, a 2nd keyboardist with intellectual disability, a 3rd keyboardist with physical disability, a rhythm guitarist with hearing impairment, a bassist, a drummer and percussionist with intellectual disabilities. The Azalea Band released their debut original single, 温暖的微笑 (translation: Warm Smile) in Nov 2022 during the Learn in Faith, Serve with Love concert. These original singles were supported by the Enabling Lives Initiative Grant and is available on major digital streaming platforms such as Spotify, YouTube Music, etc.

Emerging out of Faith Music Centre, VIB Band comprises musicians who are also persons with disability. The eight piece band, led by their band mentor on the drums, comprises a 1st keyboardist with physical disability, a 2nd keyboardist on the Autism Spectrum, a bassist and a lead guitarist both with physical disability, a rhythm guitarist with visual impairment, a vocalist with physical disability and a 2nd vocalist who is a caregiver of a child with special needs. VIB Band’s vocalist, affectionately known as Mama Aisah (age 78) is the winner of the Goh Chok Tong Enabling Award (Achievement) 2023. The award recognizes persons with disabilities who have made significant achievement in their own fields and serve as an inspiration to others. One of VIB Band’s notable performances was for the International Volunteer Day 2023, held at the Istana in Dec 2023 with Guest of Honour, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.