عازف بيانو قطري من ذوي التوحد يبدع في مهرجان دريشة التابع لمؤسسة قطر

With his eyes diligently fixed on the piano, his fingers delicately moving over its keys, and facial expressions changing ever so slightly with each note, 14-year-old Hassan Saeed Al-Shehhi performed in front of his biggest crowd yet at Qatar Foundation’s D’reesha Performing Arts Festival.

Al-Shehhi was diagnosed with autism when he was two and is non-verbal. His mother, Aisha Al-Kash said: “He couldn’t say it to me in words, but I could feel he understood that he was on a stage, performing in front of a crowd, that people were listening to him, and that he was being applauded. I could see it in that instance that he was as proud and as happy as I was.”

The Al-Shehhi family found out about the D’reesha Performing Arts Festival and expressed their wish for their son to participate, which to their delight was welcomed by the team. 

Al-Kash said: “We are on always on the lookout for opportunities for Hassan to perform and pursue his passion for music. As parents, we want him to have a place in the community, and by opening their doors to people of all abilities the D’reesha Performing Arts Festival and Qatar Foundation have given him exactly that – a place and a sense of belonging in the community.” 

Al-Shehhi’s relationship with music started when he was eight, thanks to a chance encounter at his school where he tried his hand at the piano during one of his music classes. His parents quickly recognized that he showed signs of talent and enrolled him in a private music institute so he could progress. 

His mother recalls that when she initially approached the music institute, the piano teacher wasn’t sure Al-Shehhi would be a good fit, given he had autism. But on her insistence, he agreed to give it a go. Six years on, Al-Shehhi plays with the flowing dexterity of a seasoned pianist. And his piano teacher is the first to admit that Al-Shehhi has shown strengths that most other kids don’t. 

“His memory is particularly good. He never forgets the notes, no matter how long he’s been on break, he doesn’t forget them. Most other kids need a refresher after a break but not Hassan,” said Al-Kash, who is quick to point out that when it comes to individuals with special needs, we’d be much better off as a society if we focused on their strengths as opposed to making their weaknesses a barrier to their participation in activities. 

When he isn’t playing the piano, Al-Shehhi enjoys swimming, cycling, horse rising, and skating. “He enjoys everything other children his age do. A little support is all he needs.”

Given his interest in music, Al-Shehhi also plays the xylophone and is taking lessons in Eastern music too. His mother thinks music has allowed him to concentrate better on whatever task he is doing.

Accorrding to Al-Kash, the D’reesha Performing Arts Festival has played a commendable role in showcasing Arab Culture through music, theater, and arts, but what’s more commendable is the way it incorporated inclusivity and accessibility. 

She said: “Not only did they have people of all abilities in the performances, but they also had sign language available for the deaf and hard of hearing, and audio description of the performances for the blind and visually impaired. It was beautiful to see just how much thought was put into ensuring they were catering to people of all abilities. It is something I hope to see at all events going forward.”

Getting in on the football fever, Al-Shehhi learned how to play World Cup favorites like Arhabo and Hayya Hayya on the piano. “He often plays them for us at home. It’s his way of being part of the football fever,” said his mother, who dreams of seeing her son perform on a global stage in the near future. 

Going forward, she hopes to see more opportunities – recreational and skill development – for people of all abilities across the country. She said: “Opportunities do exist, but they are not necessarily enough. I hope not long in the future we will have enough opportunities that no parent of a child with autism or any other need is put on a waiting list.”