Science Festival – Autism: How Music Changes a Life

Can music transform the daily lives of people with autism? As part of the Science Festival, Haizebegi is dedicating an afternoon to the research, experiments, and personal stories gathered since 2020 on the topic of MusiKautisme. Researchers, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, educators, musicians, organizations, and families will share their perspectives, with a highlight: a lecture by Pamela Heaton of Goldsmiths—University of London, a world-renowned expert in the study of the links between music and autism. The day also features performances by young musicians from the Nid Basque, alongside Vigüela. 

• 2:00–2:30 p.m. MusiKautisme Workshop: Sonidos de la Mancha
  Performance by the young musicians of Le Nid Basque featuring Vigüela.
• 2:30–3:00 p.m. The MusiKautisme Project
  Project review and presentation of the booklet Autism and Music in the Basque Country: Locations, Resources, Support Services — Haizebegi Éditions, 2026.
• 3:30–5:30 p.m. Roundtable Discussion: “Autism: How Music Changes Lives”
  A gathering of healthcare professionals, researchers, musicians, educators, and support specialists to discuss the effects of music-making and the initiatives developed in the Basque Country.
• 6:00–7:00 p.m. Pamela Heaton: Listening, Feeling, Thinking, Acting
  The Psychology of Music and Autism.
  Lecture in English with simultaneous translation into French and Basque.
• 7:00–7:30 p.m. Meet Vigüela and Sara Cano
  A backstage discussion about their creative process and how folklore, music, and dance can continue to reinvent themselves.

Pamela Heaton, Special Guest at MusiKautisme 2026
An international authority on music and autism research in Haizebegi.

Professor Emerita of Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London, Pamela Heaton has devoted nearly thirty years of her research to musical cognition and developmental disorders, with a particular focus on autism. Originally trained in classical singing, she wrote her doctoral dissertation on musical cognition in people with autism before going on to lead numerous international research programs.

Her research focuses in particular on sound perception, memory, language, and the way people with autism perceive and process musical information. In 2024, she published *The Psychology of Music and Autism: Hearing, Feeling, Thinking, Doing*, a seminal work in this field of research.

Guest of Honor at Haizebegi 2026, Pamela Heaton will close out MusiKautisme Day with a lecture titled “Listen, Feel, Think, Act: The Psychology of Music and Autism”.

Saturday, October 10 · 6:00–7:00 p.m. · Quintaou Theater, Anglet
Lecture in English with simultaneous translation into French and Basque.

MusiKautisme: A Living Laboratory in the Basque Country

Since 2020, MusiKautisme has been bringing together scientific research, musical practice, and social action around a single question: What role can music play in the lives of people with autism spectrum disorder, particularly in strengthening their abilities?

Brought to the Basque Country as part of a cross-border initiative, the program brings together researchers, musicians, music therapists, educators, medical and social service organizations, people with autism, and their families. For the 2026 edition, six cross-border workshops brought together 32 young musicians with autism, their caregivers, and professionals from both sides of the border.

At the heart of the project, two individuals are turning music-making into a true space for experimentation and connection.

Pietro Calabretta · Anthropologist, coordinator of MusiKautisme
A doctoral student in anthropology at EHESS, Pietro Calabretta is writing his dissertation on the relationship between music and autism. At the Maurice Ravel Conservatory in the Basque Country, he leads an adapted group music workshop. As part of Haizebegi, he oversees MusiKautisme and moderates the roundtable discussion “Autism: How Music Changes Lives”.

Yamel Romero · Musician and music therapist
A Cuban musician and music therapist, Yamel Romero founded the school MusikaNaizin San Sebastián, dedicated in particular to music education for people with disabilities and to training young music therapists. As a partner of MusiKautisme alongside Pietro Calabretta, he leads workshops in the southern Basque Country for neurodivergent individuals and fosters collective practice as a space for learning, expression, and connection.

Autism: Bringing Together Experiences, Knowledge, and Practices

The MusiKautisme roundtable does not present a single perspective on autism. Psychiatry, neuropsychology, special education, music, medical and social support, inclusion policies, and family experiences come together to compare practices and experiences developed in the Basque Country and beyond.

Dr. Andréa Anchordoquy · Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist at Charles-Perrens Hospital in Bordeaux and director of the Autism Resource Center’s Bayonne branch, Andréa Anchordoquy brings to these discussions a perspective rooted in psychiatry and the clinical care of people with autism.

Ángel Bento · Special Education Teacher and Music Therapist
As a special education teacher and music therapist, Ángel Bento represents Elgarrekin – Handi Ressources 64, an organization that supports children with disabilities, their families, and professionals to promote their inclusion in mainstream settings. He also works at SAMSAH Sud Landes, which is dedicated to supporting adults with autism.

Lucie Fadda · Neuropsychologist, Chrysalide
Lucie Fadda, a neuropsychologist specializing in autism, directs the SESSAD AVA 64 program of the Chrysalide. Her work with children, families, and educational teams informs a practical approach to learning, support, and inclusion.

Jimmy Brosa · Gautena Association, San Sebastián
Head of the Family Support Service at Gautena—a leading organization in the field of autism in Gipuzkoa—Jimmy Brosa brings with him the experience gained in the southern Basque Country regarding support for people with autism and their families, as well as inclusion policies.

Mikel Cañada · Musician and cultural mediator
A musician, educator, and leading figure in music outreach in Spain, Mikel Cañada has been coordinating Musika Gela, the educational department of the Euskadi Symphony Orchestra. He develops projects designed to bring music to audiences who have limited access to it, particularly people with disabilities or developmental disorders. He currently chairs the Spanish network ROCE, which is dedicated to educational and social concerts.

Michel Tardio · Anglet City Council Member, Commissioner for Integration and Inclusion
Having been committed to issues of disability and inclusion for many years, Michel Tardio foundedEMAN, a supported employment organization founded in 2023 to promote the sustainable employment of people with disabilities in mainstream workplaces. His remarks prompt reflection on a critical issue: the role our society assigns to people with disabilities, from childhood through their professional lives.

Thomas Perron · A Parent’s Testimony
As director of the NOPAL agency and father of Armand, Thomas Perron brings a different perspective to the roundtable discussion: that of a parent. His testimony situates research, policies, and professional practices within the daily lives of families.

When Research Meets Practice
The day also features those who bring MusiKautisme to life on the ground. Dominique Driollet, director of Nid Basque in Anglet, oversees the partnership with the school’s young musicians. On October 10, they will join the musicians of Vigüela on stage at the Quintaou to present the work they’ve done together on Sonidos de la Mancha.

This is a very concrete way of highlighting what has been at the heart of MusiKautisme since its inception: making music not just a subject of study, but a shared practice experienced by the people directly involved.