Top Takeaways from Tasha Ghouri and Dame Evelyn Glennie

Dame Evelyn Glennie and Tasha Ghouri come from different generations and different corners of the deaf experience: one a Grammy winning percussionist who has spent decades explaining that listening is not the same as hearing, the other a dancer and broadcaster who became the first deaf contestant on Love Island. In conversation with BBC Radio 3’s Dr Hannah French, they talked about growing up in a world not built with them in mind, and about the difference between being accommodated and being included.

Top Takeaways

“The challenge is to really get people to hear and understand.” – Dr Hannah French

“Enjoy the music… forget the rest.” – Dame Evelyn Glennie

“It’s important we recognise that we can all make a difference every day and recognising that our sense are our superpowers.” – Dame Evelyn Glennie

“It used to overtake me, but now it’s my superpower.” – Tasha Ghouri

“Every single voice matters… we need to keep pushing for accessibility and inclusivity.” – Tasha Ghouri

“The passion and purpose is what keeps the longevity of a career.” – Dame Evelyn Glennie

“When something happens and a door closes, there’s always another way.” – Dame Evelyn Glennie

“Your deafness doesn’t make you different, it’s part of you and it’s beautiful and unique.” – Tasha Ghouri

“You found your wings and you flew.” – Tasha Ghouri

Further Reading

• Your Superpower: Embrace What Makes You Different, Tasha Ghouri (Little, Brown, 2025). Link
• Hits Different, Tasha Ghouri with Lizzie Huxley-Jones (Hot Key Books, 2024). Link
• Listen World!, Evelyn Glennie (Balestier Press, 2019). Link
• Good Vibrations: My Autobiography, Evelyn Glennie (Hutchinson, 1990). Link
• The Rolling Year: Listening to the Seasons with Vivaldi, Hannah French (Faber, 2025). Link

Further Listening and Watching

• Touch the Sound: A Sound Journey with Evelyn Glennie, documentary, 2004. Link
• Evelyn Glennie: How to truly listen, TED talk, 2003. Link
• Superpowers with Tasha, podcast, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Link
• The Early Music Show, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds, presented by Hannah French. Link
• Sound of Metal, film, 2019, Prime Video. Link
• See Hear, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer. Link

Further Help

• RNID, Royal National Institute for Deaf People. Link
• British Deaf Association, the UK’s Deaf-led charity. Link
• National Deaf Children’s Society, support for deaf children and their families. Link
• Topp Language Solutions, Leeds based BSL interpreting, and the festival’s own interpreters. Link