Evelyn Glennie

"I walk into a kids' store, and it's amazing, the types of instruments - little squeaky things, rattling things, spinning tops."

"The human body and mind are tremendous forces that are continually amazing scientists and society. Therefore, we have no choice but to keep an open mind as to what the human being can achieve."

"Music is about communication... it isn't just something that maybe physically sounds good or orally sounds interesting it's something far, far deeper than that."

"Once you're in a particular country, and you're surrounded by musicians who are so adept at traditional music, you suddenly realize how much there is to explore and digest and learn and experience."

"Marimba is much more of a wood-type experience and there is no real possibility of getting a dry sound, and getting that contrast in the same way that you can in a vibraphone."

"And as I grew older, I then auditioned for the Royal Academy of Music in London, and they said, well, no, we won't accept you, because we haven't a clue - you know - of the future of a so-called 'deaf' musician. And I just couldn't quite accept that."