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The legendary composer Ludwig van Beethoven started experiencing hearing loss at about 25 years old and was entirely deaf by the end of his life. Yet, he created some of the most breathtaking music in history. Beethoven's story shows that music transcends hearing—it flows from the heart and soul. Today, his legacy lives on through numerous deaf and hard-of-hearing musicians, including these six remarkable artists who prove that music is felt, not just heard.
Mandy Harvey
Jazz vocalist Mandy Harvey faced hearing challenges from a young age. Frequent ear infections in her childhood required her to sit at the front of classrooms to follow lessons, but her passion for music remained undeterred. She enrolled at Colorado State University with dreams of becoming a vocal music professor. However, her hearing worsened dramatically during her freshman year, and despite medical interventions, she lost all hearing in both ears.
Harvey fell into a year-long depression but eventually found solace in music again. She discovered she could still play the piano and rely on her perfect pitch to recall how to sing each note. Although her hearing loss is classified as "profound," allowing her to hear only sounds above 110 decibels, she connects with music through vibrations and rhythms. Collaborating with her accompanist, Mark Sloniker, she watches his movements to stay in sync. These adaptations have enabled her to build a successful career, releasing her first album, Smile, in 2009 and performing regularly at Jay's Bistro in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Sean Forbes
Sean Forbes
Sean Forbes has been deaf for as long as he can recall, and his dream of becoming a musician has been equally enduring. He lost his hearing completely after a serious illness at just one year old. Growing up in a musical household, with both parents playing in bands, Forbes was surrounded by music—whether it was live instruments or classic tracks from The Beatles and Motown blasting from the stereo. Drawn to the rhythmic vibrations, he began drumming at five and later picked up the guitar and bass by age 10. His passion for rap emerged later, naturally aligning with the genre's heavy basslines. Forbes gained recognition after creating an American Sign Language music video for Detroit rapper Eminem's
Lose Yourself
, which caught the attention of Eminem's studio, 54 Sound. They collaborated to produce his first EP,
I'm Deaf
. (You can watch the music video for the title track
here
.) The EP caught the attention of BMI, leading to a record deal earlier this year.
Forbes, however, isn't stopping at a record deal. He has also founded D-PAN (Deaf Performing Arts Network), a non-profit dedicated to supporting deaf artists. D-PAN creates opportunities for deaf performers across various disciplines and produces American Sign Language versions of popular songs, ensuring everyone can experience the joy of music.
Beethoven's Nightmare
Three teenagers at Gallaudet University, a Washington, D.C. institution for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, bonded not over their disability but over their shared passion for rock 'n' roll. In 1971, Bob Hiltermann (drums), Ed Chevy (bass guitar), and Steve Longo (guitar) dreamed of performing on stage, refusing to let their deafness stand in the way. They soon created
Beethoven's Nightmare
, the world's first all-deaf band. Known for their electrifying guitars, powerful vocals, and bold stage presence, the only thing distinguishing them from other bands was their use of sign language during performances.
Over nearly four decades, the band has experienced breakups and reunions, but they solidified their legacy with the 2006 release of their debut album, Turn It Up Louder. Since then, they've performed at deaf organization conferences and nightclubs nationwide. (Watch a performance clip here.) They are also featured in the documentary See What I'm Saying, which showcases the challenges and successes of deaf artists and is currently touring film festivals.
Janine Roebuck
Hereditary progressive deafness was a family trait, but Janine Roebuck from Britain remained unfazed. Having never faced issues before, she continued to chase her passion for music. However, during her time at Manchester University, she began noticing certain sounds fading. A hearing test revealed a grim prediction: "Sing while you can, as a music career is impossible." Undeterred, Roebuck pursued her studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, followed by the Paris Conservatoire and the National Opera Studio in London.
For a decade, Roebuck concealed her hearing loss from everyone except her closest confidants. She feared losing roles or being pitied by conductors, so she adapted silently as her hearing worsened. The strain of maintaining this facade eventually became unbearable, leading her to get hearing aids. To her surprise, conductors admired her resilience rather than shunning her, and her career flourished. After revealing her condition, she partnered with the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), the UK's leading charity for the deaf community. She became a trustee in 2007 and has since emerged as a prominent advocate for deaf individuals in Britain. Watch her performance at the 2009 AMI Awards here.
Dame Evelyn Glennie
Every music genre has its trailblazer—the rule-breaker who paves the way for others. For deaf musicians, that revolutionary figure is Scotland's
Dame Evelyn Glennie
. As the world's first professional solo percussionist, Glennie has been profoundly deaf since she was 12. She is undoubtedly the most renowned deaf musician globally, boasting a Grammy-winning album, 25 solo records, and over 100 annual performances worldwide. She has worked with top orchestras and artists, including Björk, Sting, and pianist Emanuel Ax. Glennie also collaborated with banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck on a Grammy-nominated album and even made
a brief appearance
with the Grouch on Sesame Street. Her musical achievements earned her the title of Dame Commander, one of the highest honors in British chivalry.
Despite her deafness, Glennie's website rarely mentions it. While she doesn't conceal her condition, she doesn't emphasize it either, believing it to be "an irrelevant part of the equation." This stance has led to tension within the deaf community, as she opposes learning sign language and advocates against specialized schools for deaf children, arguing that such segregation limits their potential. However, her perspective has evolved over time. In 2008, after decades of resistance, she began learning sign language, stating, "Life changes, and so do your choices. I now see things differently, and keeping an open mind is essential."
The Hi-Notes
The future for deaf musicians has never looked more promising. Thanks to the UK charity Music and the Deaf, young musicians are gaining opportunities to perform in two groups—The Deaf Youth Orchestra and The Hi-Notes, the latter focusing on original compositions by students.
Led by Danny Lane, who has been profoundly deaf since birth, the eight members of The Hi-Notes work together to create music that reflects the unique perspective of deaf artists. Their compositions are often experimental, designed to emphasize vibrations and sensory feedback while still appealing to hearing audiences.
In 2008, The Hi-Notes were selected to perform at the Music for Youth Schools Prom, an event showcasing the UK's most talented young musicians. They performed their original piece, "Tutankhamen's Curse," at the iconic Royal Albert Hall, a cultural landmark in Britain. The piece, inspired by the discovery of the boy king's tomb, earned a standing ovation and marked a significant milestone in deaf music. Watch their performance here, starting around the 3:45 mark.
