The Sound Within
a musical celebration of overcoming
hearing loss and staying true to you.
Live Performance
Part of the Listen Up! initiative, The Sound Within concert celebrates staying true to yourself in the face of challenges.
Pianist Michèle Wilmot shares her journey with hearing loss, exploring how it shaped her music and inspired her groundbreaking research into how musicians hear, perform, and collaborate.
This dynamic concert blends solo and ensemble performances, storytelling, and innovative sound experiments, revealing the resilience, creativity, and joy that come from embracing your unique self.
Discover how Michèle continues to navigate life as a Hard of Hearing pianist, staying true to her art, and inspiring audiences.
Included is a glimpse of the Hearing Hacks workshop, where her research meets practical solutions.
Produced by Unwrap, The Sound Within is presented in partnership with Listen Up! and The Registry Theatre.
Date: Saturday April 25, 2026
Venue: The Registry Theatre
(122 Frederick St, Kitchener)
Start Time: 3:00pm (1hr runtime)
Admission: $25
Are you a musician with hearing loss? Or one who collaborates with a Hard-of-Hearing musician?
Join us for a special Listen Up! workshop – Hearing Hacks
The Sound Within’s companion workshop, Hearing Hacks, is a welcoming, hands-on space for musicians who are hard of hearing, as well as collaborators, teachers, and curious community members.
Over coffee and conversation, participants connect through shared lived experience and learn directly from Listen Up! speakers, including Michèle, an audiologist who is also a professional acoustical engineer, and a professional sound engineer. Together, they explore practical, accessible sound solutions like microphones, monitors, speaker placement, and in-ear monitor (IEM) setups, and test them in real musical contexts from rehearsal to ensemble playing to audience listening.
The goal is to build community and to identify affordable, adaptable tools that make music more accessible without requiring musicians to abandon their artistry or identity.
MEET THE ARTISTS
Michèle Wilmot (she/her) (BSc.hon, A.R.C.T, L.B.C.M.hon)
Michèle Wilmot was born in St. Bruno, Quebec. Michèle is most dedicated to piano performance, performing across North America in British Columbia, Ontario and in New York City for the Beethoven Sonata marathon in celebration of Beethoven’s 250th birthday. Michèle has studied with Gertrude Lavoie, Carol Ditner-Wilson, Boyd McDonald and currently with Koichi Inoue. Most recently Michèle’s piano and organ solo music has been featured in three of Stephen W. Young’s local films of Dickson and Bruce: History meets Mystery.
A large part of her recent year has been spent recording and researching for Hard of Hearing musicians and music enthusiasts; an initiative she calls ListenUp! Alongside her solo and collaborative concert work, she enjoys curating concerts, giving to the community, supporting many organizations, and accompanying upcoming solo artists. For her work as a concert curator and pianist, she was nominated for a Denny Award at the KW Arts Awards.
Alten Wilmot (he/they)
Alten Wilmot is a playwright, performer, producer, and multidisciplinary artist. Founder and Artistic Director of Unwrap Theatre, they have produced over 50 original works and have developed programs, productions, and mentorship opportunities for over 200 artists. They are passionate about working directly with audiences from vast demographics, including seniors, young people, and underrepresented groups. They value meaningful community connections, virtuosity, comedy, stirring creativity, and finding meaning in the unresolved.
Alten has worked across the country. They have been recognized with awards from Buddies in Bad Times, ArtworxTO, and the Waterloo Region Arts Awards, and have worked in residency with institutions like the National Ballet of Canada, Obsidian Theatre, and MT Space. Their work has been presented by companies like the CBC, Harbourfront Centre, Guelph Dance, and more.
Stay tuned for the announcement of an exciting lineup of featured artists!
Listen Up! and Unwrap gratefully acknowledge the support of the Region of Waterloo, City of Kitchener, City of Waterloo, Wilmot Technologies Inc., Canada Council for the Arts, and Government of Canada towards realizing The Sound Within.
Many thanks to those who make our work possible.
Be a part of the future of the arts in the Waterloo Region and