00:05Most musicians would be disappointed if their performances were met with silence, but for
00:11Alison Ware, it's often the quietest audiences that are the most rewarding.
00:15For the past five years, she's been serenading some of Canberra's wildest residents, bringing
00:21the gentle sound of the harp to rhinos, lemurs, lions and even fish at the National Zoo and
00:29Aquarium.
00:30It's like humans, some days we feel like music and some days we don't.
00:33The primates would like the larger harp and the lighter sound.
00:37The rhino likes the deeper sound in the harp.
00:40Some animals wander over to investigate while others settle in for an afternoon nap.
00:45Even the fish swim towards the music.
00:50Among Alison's biggest fans are the zoo's black and white ruffed lemurs.
00:54They like to just curl up in a ball and listen to the harp.
00:58While the zoo may be one of Alison's more unusual workplaces, her music has long been used to
01:03offer comfort in hospital.
01:05But, whether she's playing for people or primates, her music has a remarkable way of bringing calm.
01:15I work in palliative care with my harp, so I guess this is just another way for me to use
01:20my music.
01:21And I find it so relaxing, so I think I get as much back as, hopefully, that I give to
01:26the animals.
01:27It's a real privilege.
01:31Proof that you don't need applause to know that music has struck the right chord.
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