About Sound Affects
Sound Affects addresses the severe isolation that older adults experience as they age and become less independent.
In every region of Colorado and the country there are underfunded long term care facilities, nursing homes, assisted living sites, and memory care buildings where older adults are marginalized by financial and systemic barriers that leave them with diminished access to quality of life, mental health, social opportunities, and community connection.
Sound Affects recognizes music as a key intervention in overburdened healthcare settings, centering local professional artists who are able to deliver meaningful connection to residents who need it. We also serve adult day populations who are similarly isolated from contemporary music settings.
Why Music?
Live music is uniquely able to engage individuals because it stimulates us socially, emotionally, and mentally. Research shows this to be an important and successful tool to address social isolation and mental health, especially in adult populations above the age of 50. Read more on the research behind music’s benefits in Long Term Care.
What is Arts Equity?
Arts equity lives at the root of Sound Affects’ mission: creating meaningful musical experiences for older adults who are often excluded from mainstream arts spaces, while supporting musicians with fair, paid work. By valuing both artists and aging community members, we build a more inclusive, connected, and equitable arts ecosystem.
Our History
2018:
Independent Artists
Local Independent musicians identify need for greater access to live music programs and opportunities for older adults living in Long Term Care
2020:
PAFC
Sound Affects becomes a project of Partnership For Age-Friendly Communities and delivers pilot programming with 60 musicians, 98 performances in the midst of widespread isolation
2021:
501C3
Sound Affects becomes a standalone nonprofit organization and scaled performance programming while piloting 1-1 personalized programs
2023:
Scaling and Stabilizing
Monthly performances are established in 36 LTC facilities in Front Range Colorado and Sound Affects begins establishing stronger community partnerships
Where can you find Sound Affects?
Sound Affects programs are in:
Fort Collins
Loveland
Greeley
Windsor
Estes Park
Longmont
Lakewood
“Sound Affects’ musicians have all brought such quality music to our residents. They completely break the mold of the traditional care culture model for music.
We have had amazing jazz, vocalists, string trios, acoustic guitar, brass bands, bluegrass. Residents really have been enjoying the variety and how professional the musicians have been AND they have been dancing more!!”
Madelyn Chapman, Activity Director at Someren Glen
Meet Our Team
Hanna Doreen Brown
Executive Director | She/Her
Hanna Doreen Brown is an integrative artist from Rochester, NY who brings innovation to the music she writes and to the spaces in which she performs. Her love for music of the past and present can be seen in her daily work, performing covers and originals in Colorado long-term care facilities and building Sound Affects’ nonprofit programs to touch the lives of isolated individuals. Hanna hopes that as she continues to use music to connect with those seeking connection, she'll capture the stories of the wise, learn a little about a lot, and break down some stereotypes in the process.
Jakob Mueller
Program Coordinator, Marketing/Design | He/Him
Jakob Mueller is a Colorado-based musician and Graphic Designer. He is deeply passionate about using art and music as a means to invite connection and collaboration. Jakob enjoys spending his leisure time writing music, running, and spending quality time with his friends and family.
