Our Story

Our founder discovered the powerful connection between music and memory shortly after her grandparents were diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. In 2014, Melodies of Memory started out as a Kansas-based group of high school students playing music at local nursing homes. After our founder left Kansas to study Public Health and Music at Vanderbilt University, the ensembles and performances expanded to Nashville, TN. Our music enrichment services are tailored to the preferences of the audience to elicit memories and facilitate sing-alongs, hoping to bring joy and improve quality of life. Over the years since, Melodies of Memory has taken root in Wisconsin, where we continue to bring music to those who often cannot seek it out on their own.

As a non-profit volunteer organization, performances have no cost. Please reach out to us through our Contact page if you are interested in booking a Melodies of Memory performance!

Meet Our Musicians

Our ensemble is always growing...

Please contact melodiesofmemory.wi@gmail.com to set up an audition!

Founder | Music Director | Flutist

Lillian

Lillian is a classically trained flutist and dabbles in ukulele, guitar, and voice. She moved to Wisconsin (despite her lactose-intolerance) after studying music in Nashville, TN. When she's not making music, Lillian enjoys traditional martial arts and spending time with her cats!

Web Designer| Flutist

Jaiden

Jaiden has been playing flute for over six years, and also practices violin (although not as much as he should). Since his favorite hobbies are collecting coins and visiting estate sales, he considers himself an 'old soul.'

20230701_122845 - Jun Nishikawa_edited.p

Cellist

Jun

Jun has been playing the cello for over 10 years and has also dabbled in guitar and the Otamatone. Outside of music, he enjoys rock climbing, teaching Japanese, and brewing coffee.

Pianist| Violinist| Guitarist | Vocalist

Raymond

Raymond is a pianist, singer, and self-taught violinist and guitar player. Originally from Minnesota, he is not afraid of the Wisconsin winter. When he’s not using his perfect pitch to make beautiful music, he enjoys theater, dancing, jiu jitsu, and 100 gecs.

Vocalist | Pianist

Adalia

Adalia has been playing piano for 18 years and received a BM in piano performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She enjoys collaborating with others by sharing music in the community. Outside of music, she likes visiting the arboretum, taking yoga classes, and curling up with a good book.

Pianist

Callahan

Callahan has been playing piano for about 20 years, and he loves collaborating with other musicians. Originally from Central New York, he feels right at home in Wisconsin and has to admit that cheese curds are, in fact, better when fried.

Pianist | Vocalist

Brooklyn

Brooklyn received a BFA in musical theater and taught contemporary voice at BYU until moving to Wisconsin. These days she primarily performs to her 4 children - a most gratifying audience. You can find her album, Heart in a Box (by Brooklyn Poulter) on iTunes, Amazon music, & Spotify.

Flutist | Arrangements/Composition

Minato

Minato has been playing music all his life, and he is self-taught in a variety of instruments. While flute is his primary, he can play any wind instrument skillfully. He is also an avid Musescore user and enjoys composing and arranging music for various ensembles. Outside of music, he enjoys hiking, cooking, and spending time with friends.

Guitar | Vocalist

Tim

After picking up a guitar at 13, Tim has taken every opportunity to perform, either solo or with a band. When he isn't strumming the guitar or messing around with other instruments, he enjoys playing any sport and hanging out with his two cats.

F A Q

What kind of music do you play?

What is the time commitment?

We typically perform songs from the childhood and youth of our aging audiences as these melodies tend to elicit memories and spark engagement. Popular songs include "Can't Help Falling in Love," "Fly Me to the Moon," and "As Time Goes By." We also play folk songs, classical pieces, and well-known musicals (such as The Sound of Music) for variety!

The time commitment for volunteer musicians is very flexible. The performance is ~1 hour with at least one rehearsal prior. The rehearsal is typically 1-2 hours or as long as needed to play through the program comfortably. Musicians can choose to be part of performances as frequently or infrequently as they like!

Does the set list change?

Yes! We determine our set list based on the instrumentalists/vocalists available for each given concert, and we pull from our repository of repertoire to distribute the sheet music prior to rehearsal. Musicians are also welcome to create folders entitled with their own name in our Google Drive and upload any music or lead sheets they would like us to explore adding to our set.

How often do you perform?

We work with a number of different facilities in the Madison area and perform concerts once a month (scheduled for Saturdays and Sundays). Once musicians provide availability and are assigned to a concert date/ensemble, we coordinate rehearsal(s) based on the musicians' availability (typically weekday evenings).

How can I get involved?

Please contact us at melodiesofmemory.wi@gmail.com to set up an audition! We welcome musicians of all ages and skill levels.