SONG volunteer, Eldie Valles says sometimes just showing up can change a child’s week
For volunteers with Sounds of the Next Generation, music is only part of the story.
The Northumberland based non profit removes financial barriers so young people can explore music, learn instruments and perform, all at no cost to families. Students rehearse together, receive mentorship and take part in regular concerts, including monthly Soundstage open mic events at the Capitol Theatre.
Behind the scenes, volunteers organize rehearsals, coordinate concerts, handle governance, fundraising and promotion, and help create welcoming spaces where youth can grow in confidence. The board itself includes people from many professional backgrounds, and the organization is currently hoping to attract volunteers with marketing and human resources experience.
Valles joined SONG in 2022 during a board recruitment push. A lifelong music lover, he began with no governance experience and has since served in several roles, becoming board chair this year.
What keeps him involved, he says, is seeing what access to music can do for young people.
He points to moments at concerts when students step into the spotlight, sometimes for the first time, and discover they are capable of more than they imagined. Parents have told him rehearsals and performances quickly become the highlight of their child’s week.
For Valles, volunteering is about connection, and about creating group experiences where no one feels alone.
Even small contributions matter.
While volunteers may wonder if their time makes a difference, he says the impact is often bigger than they realize. For some students, simply having people who consistently show up is what helps them feel supported and included.
Listen in below to Valles’s full interview, presented by sales representative Paul Lang with Coldwell Banker RMR Real Estate.
Anyone interested in volunteering or learning more about SONG programs can find details at songprogram.org.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
