Graeme Clark Youth Orchestra

Twelve young musicians with cochlear implants, members of the Graeme Clark Youth Orchestra, traveled to Rome to give two unique performances: one for Pope Francis at the Vatican, and another at the Embassy of Spain to the Holy See.

The orchestra was founded in 2019 through a collaboration between Fundación GAES Solidaria and the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital in Barcelona, with the goal of showcasing the musical potential of children and teenagers with profound deafness who, thanks to cochlear implant technology, can now hear, learn, and make music. Since then, we’ve accompanied these young people in their artistic and personal growth, making them a symbol of resilience and hope.

During the General Audience with the Pope, they performed We Are The Champions under the direction of Jordi Cos, president of the Orquestra Simfònica del Vallès. It was a deeply emotional moment, the result of months of preparation. The day before, they gave a recital at the Spanish Embassy’s Salón de los Palafreneros, performing songs such as Hallelujah, Waterloo, and Guantanamera before an audience of over 100 guests. The event was presided over by Ambassador Isabel Celaá and included contributions from experts like Dr. Maria Antonia Clavería and Prof. Nicola Quaranta.

For us, this experience was much more than a musical performance: it was an opportunity to raise awareness about hearing loss and its solutions, to empower these young people, and to educate society about the transformative power of cochlear implants.

This project is possible thanks to the support of Cochlear, the commitment of Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, the collaboration of the T-Oigo Association, and above all, the dedication of our young musicians and their families. At Fundación GAES Solidaria, we will continue to support initiatives that promote inclusion, culture, and hearing health—because we believe in the power of music to break down barriers and build a more accessible world for all.