10 Years of Hearpeers: A Moving Anniversary Concert Celebrating Music, Community, and the Joy of Hearing

October 7, 2025 – (Innsbruck, Austria): On September 24, 2025, MED-EL celebrated the tenth anniversary of its international Hearpeers initiative with a moving anniversary concert at Haus Vier und Einzig in Innsbruck. Nine Hearpeers mentors from three continents – who had only met a few days prior – shared their musical stories, both solo and together, showcasing how music can be experienced again with hearing implants. Nearly 200 attendees enjoyed an extraordinary evening filled with musical diversity, from folk music to rock and classical – goosebumps included.

When an idea becomes an inspiring network

The concert was opened by Patrick D’Haese, Corporate Director Awareness & Public Affairs at MED-EL and proud initiator of the global Hearpeers initiative: “Hearpeers is much more than a project to me – it is a movement that shows the power of lived experience. When people with hearing loss encourage others, it creates a connection that goes far beyond technology. This network is at the heart of our mission to make hearing possible again – with humanity, empathy, and genuine support. Standing here today to celebrate these individuals and their incredible commitment fills me with pride and joy.”

Hearpeers is MED-EL’s international community for people with hearing implants. Since 2015, the initiative has supported individuals with hearing loss worldwide through personal stories and mentoring. Today, the network includes over 200 mentors in more than 40 countries – reason enough to celebrate this milestone with a concert.

From silence to the stage

The nine mentors who came together for this evening share not only their new hearing experiences with implants and their volunteer work for Hearpeers, but also a deep love of music – each with a unique musical style and hearing journey.

Heinz from Austria has worn a cochlear implant since 2018 – just one year after learning about this hearing solution. Before his surgery, he connected with a mentor who answered many of his questions. Today, Heinz is part of the Hearpeers community himself: “It is a personal mission for me to support and guide people in similar situations that I’ve experienced myself. I want to be a role model and source of encouragement. After my implantation, I rediscovered music – my harmonica was first therapy, and now it’s my stage instrument.” At the anniversary concert, he performed Austrian folk music with Hildegard, a mentor from Germany. She hears with a bone conduction implant and mentors for MED-EL’s Bonebridge. Music is her passion – she plays several instruments, sings, and is part of a folk music ensemble in Tyrol. “Music is my life, and I’ve performed on stage many times. But what I experienced over the past few days is unforgettable. My fellow mentors have become true friends. Sharing our love of music with the audience across language and cultural boundaries was incredibly special.”

The program – international, diverse, and moving

It is hard to single out any one performer, as each rose above themselves and delivered something extraordinary: Ruth from England, who played her clarinet on stage for the first time ever. Aigirim from Kazakhstan, whose rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” was one of the evening’s most touching moments – especially given her personal journey. She grew up in a region where access to hearing implants is far from guaranteed, unlike in countries with public health insurance support.
The musical journey continued to Argentina with Javier, who not only showcased brilliant guitar playing but also performed original compositions. The Tina Turner song “Simply the Best” was a fitting choice for 83-year-old Alan from Australia – he received a standing ovation. Music teacher and multitalent Eileen from Canada and piano virtuoso Junior from Brazil also moved the audience with their performances. To conclude the evening, all musicians gathered on stage to perform a unique version of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” The new lyrics focused on mutual support, friendship, music, and hearing – all themes that make the Hearpeers initiative so valuable.
German rock bassist and Hearpeers mentor Chris wanted to give something back at the end of the concert: “On behalf of all mentors, I sincerely thank the Hochmair couple and all MED-EL employees – for giving us not only the ability to hear again but also to make music again. It’s like a dream we never dared to dream.”

The anniversary concert was a powerful testament to how music connects people – across borders and despite hearing loss. Hearpeers stands for lived inclusion, mutual support, and the power of personal experience. “The evening showed us the power of music in people’s lives,” says Hearpeers initiator Patrick D’Haese, visibly moved. “I spoke with many enthusiastic guests – everyone was touched by the mentors’ life stories. And there was a special magic in seeing people who were once hard of hearing achieve such musical excellence. These are the moments that show why our work at MED-EL is so meaningful and valuable.”

About MED-EL

MED-EL Medical Electronics, a leader in implantable hearing solutions, is driven by a mission to overcome hearing loss as a barrier to communication and quality of life. The Austrian-based, privately owned business was co-founded by industry pioneers Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair, whose ground-breaking research led to the development of the world’s first micro-electronic multi-channel cochlear implant (CI), which was successfully implanted in 1977 and was the basis for what is known as the modern CI today. This laid the foundation for the successful growth of the company in 1990, when they hired their first employees. To date, MED-EL has more than 3,000 employees from around 90 nations and 30 locations worldwide.
The company offers the widest range of implantable and non-implantable solutions to treat all types of hearing loss, enabling people in 139 countries enjoy the gift of hearing with the help of a MED-EL device. MED-EL’s hearing solutions include cochlear and middle ear implant systems, a combined electric acoustic stimulation hearing implant system, auditory brainstem implants as well as surgical and non-surgical bone conduction devices. www.medel.com 

CEO

Doz. DI Dr DDr med. h.c. Ingeborg Hochmair

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