Australian musician Mr Alan Voss, 84, from Queensland has starred in a concert in Austria to celebrate the 10th anniversary of MED-EL’s international Hearpeers initiative.
Voss, who has worn MED-EL cochlear implants since 2021, was one of nine Hearpeers mentors from three continents who shared their musical stories, both solo and together, showcasing how music can be experienced again with hearing implants.
Nearly 200 people attended the concert at Haus Vier und Einzig cultural centre in Innsbruck on 24 September 2025.
Hearpeers is MED-EL’s international community for people with hearing implants. Since 2015, the initiative has supported people with hearing loss worldwide through personal stories and mentoring. Today, the network includes more than 200 mentors in over 40 countries.
Hearpeers initiator, Mr Patrick D’Haese, MED-EL director of corporate communications, said:
“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.”
Voss sang the Tina Turner song Simply the Best and received a standing ovation. The musicians also performed a unique version of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, with new lyrics focused on mutual support, friendship, music, and hearing.
Voss said he went completely deaf in one ear about five years ago, and the other was classified as severe hearing loss. He said he was convinced that his lifelong music career would be over by now if he hadn’t received a cochlear implant.
After decades of relying on increasingly powerful hearing aids, he said he chose MED-EL for its commitment to music perception.
“It was an easy decision to get a cochlear implant, as I didn’t want to risk losing hearing in the other ear and becoming completely deaf,” he said.
“The clarity of hearing is the biggest highlight for me, leading to improved conversations and social interactions. As a professional musician and performer, my biggest concern was how my love of music would be affected.
“I chose MED-EL after learning about its research and emphasis on improving music perception, and I am so happy that music remains a rich and vibrant part of my life.”
MED-EL said anyone on their journey to better hearing could reach out to him via the Hearpeers network.
“I’m happy to help as I know a lot of people worry about getting an implant,” Voss said. “If your specialist recommends it, go for it. The operation is simple, and results are amazing.”
