History

Joris van Wijngaarden, financial director of
Carante Groep, organized a staff party under the name of South West Festival in
2005. As a big supporter and promoter of live music, he invited several bands
to the staff party, including the Candye Kane band. During her performance,
Candye invited two singers with intellectual disabilities on stage to perform
with her: Lady Angel and J.A. Grace. That was the moment that they both got
inspired. They put their heads together and imagined a musical extravaganza
that would promote blues music, brighten hearts, create cooperation and blur
the lines between who has a disability and who does not. It was then that they
conceptualized United by Music.
The search for musical talent started. Auditions were organized all over the Netherlands and many people with intellectual disabilities participated. In 2006 the first United by Music tour was a fact: eleven shows in two weeks. Every show had a program consisting of artists with disabilities under the guidance of a professional American blues band. All shows were concluded with a show of the bluesdiva Candye Kane. United by Music brought the uplifting power of music to the Netherlands.
Ever since, United by Music has changed a great deal. The organization is comparable with a artist- or event management bureau that has many diverse artists. The artists are almost completely independent when it comes to music and can be called professional musicians. The All Star Band performed over 300 times for more than 100.000 visitors in 10 different countries, including South-Africa, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Germany, Canada and the USA.
Our dream is to introduce United by Music to every community, so people with disabilities can get up on a band stand and be treated as equals all around the world. In 2012, United by Music has established an independent non-profit organization in North-America under the direction of Barbara Hammerman (www.ubmna.org) and in 2015, we have established an independent organization in Norway under the direction of Helena Wilberg.
“United by Music has grown from that one spontaneous moment into an organization that now has been all over the world and touched hundreds of lives.” – Candye Kane
The search for musical talent started. Auditions were organized all over the Netherlands and many people with intellectual disabilities participated. In 2006 the first United by Music tour was a fact: eleven shows in two weeks. Every show had a program consisting of artists with disabilities under the guidance of a professional American blues band. All shows were concluded with a show of the bluesdiva Candye Kane. United by Music brought the uplifting power of music to the Netherlands.
Ever since, United by Music has changed a great deal. The organization is comparable with a artist- or event management bureau that has many diverse artists. The artists are almost completely independent when it comes to music and can be called professional musicians. The All Star Band performed over 300 times for more than 100.000 visitors in 10 different countries, including South-Africa, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Germany, Canada and the USA.
Our dream is to introduce United by Music to every community, so people with disabilities can get up on a band stand and be treated as equals all around the world. In 2012, United by Music has established an independent non-profit organization in North-America under the direction of Barbara Hammerman (www.ubmna.org) and in 2015, we have established an independent organization in Norway under the direction of Helena Wilberg.
“United by Music has grown from that one spontaneous moment into an organization that now has been all over the world and touched hundreds of lives.” – Candye Kane