Finding harmony and inclusion in life through music

Living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) has taught me countless lessons, especially the power of connection, creativity, and celebrating every form of love.

Last Saturday, I attended the 11th annual concert of The Purple Symphony with my girlfriend, Amanda, and my new caregiver, Julie. Titled “Perhaps, It’s Love,” the event was held at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre and was organized by the Central Singapore Community Development Council (CDC) to celebrate our nation’s 60th birthday. To me, the concert felt like more than just music; it was an affirmation of how inclusion can touch hearts and lives.

The CDC is one of five district councils in Singapore, serving nearly a million residents by acting as a bridge between the government and the community. It collaborates with grassroots organizations, schools, and charities to implement programs that promote well-being, social support, the arts, and inclusion. With financial literacy, green initiatives, and creative events like The Purple Symphony, its goal is to build a caring, cohesive, and inclusive Singapore.

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Celebrating the music in life

The Purple Symphony is Singapore’s largest inclusive orchestra, comprising over 100 musicians of diverse abilities, as well as dedicated volunteers. They include people with autism, visual impairment, and physical and learning disabilities. The annual concert brings together this diverse group to showcase what’s possible when talents of all kinds unite.

As someone living with DMD, I found this experience both humbling and deeply encouraging. For once, I didn’t feel like an exception; I felt like part of a larger community, united by our shared love of music and our resilience when faced with challenges.

This year’s concert theme was inspired by the John Denver ballad “Perhaps Love.” In her opening address, the mayor of Central Singapore District, Denise Phua, explained that the concert aimed to explore different forms of love, including self-love, friendship, and love for our country. From the first note of Edward Elgar’s “Salut d’Amour” to the multicultural medley “Our Songs of Love,” the performance was a vibrant reminder of how music allows people of all backgrounds and abilities to share their stories and emotions.

Several premieres were featured, including “Fortitude,” a composition by The Purple Symphony composer-in-residence Liong Kit Yeng, and a new arrangement of “Together” by national music producer Ken Lim, a song that originally was written as the theme for Singapore’s National Day Parade in 1999.

I’d never heard the song before, and I found it quite moving. The lyrics and spirit of the piece spoke of unity and resilience, values that deeply resonate with me as someone with a rare disease. It was a reminder of how far Singapore has come in making inclusion part of its national identity (and how far it still has to go).

The concert reinforced three things for me: First, music is a universal language of emotion and a form of creative expression for people of all abilities. Second, music has the remarkable power to connect our spirits and souls, transcending our differences in background, ethnicity, culture, and language. It’s a testament to the unifying force of music that inspires and uplifts us all. And third, music serves as a poignant reminder that life, despite its challenges, is still beautiful and worth living. It’s a source of hope and optimism that we can all draw strength from.

Watching Amanda respond to the performance with awe, and seeing Julie moved by the unity on stage, made me realize how moments like these are needed now more than ever. For those of us with progressively life-threatening disabilities like DMD, time feels fleeting.

But concerts like this one give us space to be, to feel joy, to reflect, and to heal. They remind us that disability isn’t just a medical condition; it’s a different way of experiencing the world and expressing ourselves.

My first concert of The Purple Symphony won’t be my last. It showed me that when we come together in harmony, we can rewrite what society expects of those of us who are disabled. We can build something truly inclusive, not just in music, but also in how we live, love, and support one another.

Through it all, I’ll keep finding the music in my own life with Duchenne.

Note: Muscular Dystrophy News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Muscular Dystrophy News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to muscular dystrophy.