THE STORY OF EN CODA
From a bold vision....to global recognition
A vision was born
En Coda began long before the orchestra ever stepped onto a stage. It started as a quiet but persistent knowing within Tenille Bentley, a sense that sound held a capacity for transformation far beyond what most people had ever experienced.
Tenille (who was also classically trained) had been working for years at the intersection of emotional intelligence, neuroscience, and therapeutic sound. Through her work she witnessed, again and again, how specific frequencies could soften stress responses, settle the nervous system, and bring people back into themselves in a deeply grounded way.
But she also sensed something more: that therapeutic sound and classical music could be brought together to create a new frontier of wellbeing.
This idea, a fusion of ancient sound traditions and contemporary orchestral composition, might have never been done before in this way.
Tuning an entire string orchestra down to a new tuning centre to meet her instruments therapeutic tuning, that of 432 Hz.
And it would become the foundation of En Coda.
Promote overall well-being
To support health and wellness in the community through therapeutic musical experiences
Alleviate stress & anxiety
Create a deep sense of inner calm and centred-ness through the therapeutic qualities of music.
arts & science
To support research by qualified academics and industry professionals into quantifying the therapeutic qualities of music
A New Kind of Musical Experience
The vision was simple, yet revolutionary:
To create a (potentially) world-first orchestral experience designed not only to be heard, but to restore, calm and elevate the human system.
Tenille imagined an ensemble where ancient instruments could sit in harmony with a full string orchestra tuned to 432 Hz. Where therapeutic sound practitioners and classical musicians could share the same stage. Where every note, every texture, every moment was intentionally crafted for wellbeing.
This vision required not just artistic courage, but orchestral mastery. Tenille later brought in well renowned conductor and concert pianist Mark Coughlan, whose classical expertise helped translate her therapeutic sound language into orchestral form with the first production being orchestrally composed by Dr Stuart James in conjunction with Mark's guidance.
Together, along with composers, musicians, and sound therapists, they shaped what is now recognised nationally and internationally as En Coda Symphony Orchestra.
Since its inception, En Coda has grown into a 15-time internationally award-winning project celebrated for its innovative contribution to culture, health, and modern musical practice.
With artistic innovation rooted in a unique fusion of classical music and ancient sound therapy traditions.
This fusion is precisely what Tenille envisioned: music not only as entertainment, but as a therapeutic tool.
From the early sold-out concerts in Perth to performances at the Art Gallery of NSW, from international film awards to features on SBS and ABC. En Coda continues to expand its impact across Australia and beyond.
A Story That Is Still Being Written
Today, En Coda Music Limited stands as a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to:
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advancing culture
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improving wellbeing
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supporting research into the therapeutic quality of sound
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creating transformative experiences for communities
The research partnerships including collaborations with Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia — show how the original vision has matured into a scientifically grounded body of work.
This places En Coda at the forefront of music-based therapeutic innovation.
Yet the heart of the story remains the same: One woman’s courage to build an entirely new form of orchestral expression.
The team brought En Coda to offer the world a musical experience that resonates not only through the ears, but through the body, the mind, and the emotional landscape of every person who listens.
And as thousands of audience members have now discovered, once you feel En Coda, you carry its resonance long after the final note fades.