Cheers, laughter and the roar of live music filled the halls of Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital last Sunday afternoon as the hospital marked a special milestone: the 10th anniversary of HB Rocks. Since launching in 2015, this one-of-a-kind music therapy program has been developing rockstars and unforgettable memories for a decade.

“It’s the first of its kind in Canada,” said Andrea Lamont, lead music therapist at Holland Bloorview. “We bring together musicians, music therapists, volunteers, students and youth with disabilities in one space to create this incredible, supportive, rock concert experience.”

The event opened with the first of two bands delivering a high-energy setlist featuring classic tracks like “Smoke on the Water” and One Direction’s “One Thing.” The second band kept the excitement rolling with everything from an original song to nostalgic ’90s hits like “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys.

The afternoon welcomed a lively crowd of more than 200 attendees as clients, families, staff, and supporters gathered to celebrate a decade of music, resilience and community. Adding to the excitement were this year’s celebrity judges, Rudy Blair, Topher Scott, Niiva, and Doris Moro from Guitars for Kids, who were blown away by the energy of the performers and the ambitious range of songs tackled by both bands.

Among those who helped bring HB Rocks to life a decade ago is Garson Hoffman, who co-founded the program with support from hobbyist musicians in his music club, The Jam. His vision was simple: to give kids the full rockstar experience with a live, cheering crowd, the thrill of performance and the pride of seeing their hard work pay off.

“Everybody who comes into the room leaves with such a thrill and good feeling,” Garson said. “We’ve seen so many of the kids come out of their shells. By the end, they’re pushing to the front of the stage. It’s an incredible transformation to watch.”

For Ellie, one of the program’s original performers, HB Rocks has been a decade-long journey of growth and joy. Ellie, now 20, first picked up a microphone at age 10 and hasn’t looked back. This year’s event carried additional meaning, as it landed on Father’s Day — a fitting moment for Ellie’s father, Jeff Halcro, to reflect on what the program has meant to their family.

“The difference in her confidence is incredible,” Jeff said. “In terms of performing, she’s totally confident in that now, and it translates into things in school if she ever needs to get in front of people. She’s also learned to channel music as a way to monitor or regulate her feelings — it’s a way to turn things into a happy plus.”

Watching Ellie perform alongside her friends and bandmates, Jeff added, “I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day. They’ve worked really hard picking their songs, rehearsing them and now performing them. And I get to see this girl shine.”

As HB Rocks celebrated 10 years of music, connection, and transformation, it wasn’t just a concert. It was a testament to what’s possible when creativity, community and care come together.

A heartfelt thank you to all the incredible clients, staff, judges, volunteers and fans who came out to make the day unforgettable.

To help more kids experience the joy of music, you can support HB Rocks and the Music Therapy Program at Holland Bloorview by donating today: HB Rocks Donation

Here’s to the next decade of raising voices, building confidence, and making memories that rock.