The Iris Music Project

What The Iris Music Project does

The Iris Music Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2016 and headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, that places professional musician ensembles into healthcare communities for long-term, collaboratively designed music projects. Its flagship Ensemble-in-Residence Program embeds musicians at retirement communities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and memory care centers, with approximately one-third of residency time devoted to one-on-one musical connections. The Iris Piano Trio, the organization's performing ensemble, serves as the founding ensemble-in-residence at Charles E. Smith Life Communities in Rockville, Maryland, and has become the prototype for program replication at partner sites such as Mather, Weinberg Villages and Manors, Winter Growth, and Asbury Methodist Village, where partnering musicians are trained and mentored under the Iris model.

The organization employs no proprietary technology platform, instead using traditional musical instruments and performance-based engagement delivered on-site at partner locations. Programmatic components include choirs, drum circles, open rehearsals, music committee projects, intergenerational programs, one-on-one sessions, and musical lectures, supplemented by commissioned works (e.g., the Kevin McKee composition 'Fantazye') and a university presentation series titled 'An Alternative Path: Chamber Music in Unexpected Places' delivered at venues including Carnegie Mellon, Peabody Conservatory, University of Maryland, and Fudan University. Distribution is direct and high-touch, with relationships established through on-site meetings with healthcare community administrators.

The revenue model is entirely donation- and grant-based. Tax-deductible contributions are received from individuals via bank check, DonorDock credit-card processing, and the Benevity workplace-giving platform, and institutional support is provided by Maryland State Arts Council, Howard County Arts Council, Thome Aging Well Program, and other foundation grants (e.g., a $1,000 grant recorded from the Community Foundation of Howard County on 2025-01-08). The sole customer segment is healthcare communities, with secondary outreach to universities and individual older adults; no product-based pricing or fee structure is disclosed.

Name

The Iris Music Project

Legal name

Iris Music Project

Website

https://irismusicproject.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Iris Music Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that places professional musician ensembles into senior living and healthcare communities for long-term, collaboratively designed music programs, including one-on-one experiences and intergenerational projects, funded by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Music Programs

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Therapy (Educational/Developmental Programs) (EDAMANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Session Musicians & Vocalists (MPAIAHAC)

Keywords

• Community music programs
• Senior living music
• Ensemble-in-residence programs
• Music education services
• Nonprofit arts programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tax-Deductible Donations: The organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit (EIN: 83-4042952) that receives donations from individuals, which are tax-deductible. Donations can be made via bank check or credit card through their DonorDock platform.
2. Funding Grants: Support from institutional funders including Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), Howard County Arts Council, Thome Aging Well Program grant, and other foundation grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Iris Music Project places professional musician ensembles inside healthcare communities (retirement communities, nursing homes, assisted living, and memory care facilities) for long-term, collaboratively designed music programs. Core activities include the Ensemble-in-Residence Program, the Iris Piano Trio as the founding performing ensemble, and the university lecture/performance series "An Alternative Path: Chamber Music in Unexpected Places." Programming is co-designed with residents and includes choirs, drum circles, open rehearsals, one-on-one sessions, intergenerational programs, and musical lectures.

Product overview

The Iris Music Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that operates as a single unified program rather than a multi-module platform. The core offering is the Ensemble-in-Residence Program, which places professional musicians into healthcare and retirement communities for collaborative music projects. This is supported by the Iris Piano Trio, the organization's performing ensemble, which serves as the founding model and ensemble-in-residence at the Charles E. Smith Life Communities. Additional offerings include university presentations under 'An Alternative Path: Chamber Music in Unexpected Places,' commissioned works like Fantazye, Musician-in-Residence job opportunities, and volunteer programs. The organization does not offer a technology product but rather provides in-person music programming services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Iris Piano Trio: The performing ensemble of the Iris Music Project, representing the organization on stages across the Mid-Atlantic area. They serve as the ensemble in residence at the Charles E. Smith Life Communities in Rockville, Maryland.

Products and services

• Ensemble-in-Residence Program Long-term collaborative music program that embeds professional musician ensembles in retirement communities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and memory care centers. Activities include choirs, drum circles, open rehearsals, performances, music committees, intergenerational programs, one-on-one experiences, and musical lectures, co-designed with community members.
• Iris Piano Trio Performing ensemble of The Iris Music Project using a collaborative, non-traditional approach to music-making by sharing the design of performances and supporting community members as they create their own musical projects. Serves as ensemble-in-residence at Charles E. Smith Life Communities and represents the organization on stages across the Mid-Atlantic area.
• An Alternative Path: Chamber Music in Unexpected Places University lecture and chamber music presentation program by the Iris Piano Trio delivered at music conservatories and universities to showcase chamber music performed in non-traditional settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving over 1,000 older adults across healthcare communities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship/founding, core and minor.

• Charles E. Smith Life Communitiesflagship/foundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner location since 2016. Six-building development serving over 1,000 older adults in Rockville, MD. Iris Music Project began with cellist Lauren Latessa expanding to include the Iris Piano Trio. The program developed as an exciting creative exchange between professional musicians and community members, serving as the proof-of-concept model.
• Weinberg Villages and ManorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree Baltimore-based musicians in residence at Weinberg Villages and Manors, affordable housing communities for older adults in Baltimore County and City, MD. Supported by Thome Aging Well Program grant.
• MathercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership began Spring 2023 creating Ensemble-in-Residence programs for all four Mather communities across the country. Includes partnership with Tucson Symphony Orchestra for Splendido at Rancho Vistoso location.
• Winter GrowthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo musicians serve as musicians-in-residence for Winter Growth, a small assisted living/memory care community in Columbia, MD, beginning January 2024. Work supported by Howard County Arts Council.
• Asbury Methodist VillagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree musicians from National Philharmonic Orchestra serve as musicians-in-residence for Asbury Methodist Village from February-June 2025, under mentorship of Iris Music Project. Partnership with National Philharmonic Orchestra.
• National Philharmonic OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Asbury Methodist Village residency where National Philharmonic musicians serve as musicians-in-residence under Iris Music Project mentorship. Also provides employment for team members including Amyr Joyner and Elizabeth G. Hill.
• Tucson Symphony OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Splendido at Rancho Vistoso location where Iris Music Project programs are conducted in partnership with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra.
• Main Street ConnectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirtual program partner during pandemic period; Iris Music Project provided virtual one-on-one music sessions for Main Street Connect participants (fourteen hours weekly).
• Peabody Conservatory, Johns Hopkins UniversityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost venue for An Alternative Path: Chamber Music in Unexpected Places university presentation program.
• Carnegie Mellon UniversityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost venue for An Alternative Path: Chamber Music in Unexpected Places university presentation program.
• University of Maryland, College ParkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost venue for An Alternative Path: Chamber Music in Unexpected Places university presentation program.
• Fudan University (Shanghai, China)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost venue for An Alternative Path: Chamber Music in Unexpected Places international university presentation program.
• Peabody InstituteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDiana Sánchez is faculty member; provides pipeline of musicians and potential collaboration opportunities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Music & Memory: Music & Memory is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that brings personalized music to people living with dementia and other cognitive challenges in care facilities. Direct peer: same target population (older adults in senior living), same non-profit funding model, and similar mission of using music to improve quality of life in healthcare communities.
• Musicians on Call: Musicians on Call brings live and recorded music to hospital patients, families, and staff at the bedside. Direct peer: same model of placing volunteer/professional musicians into healthcare settings, same healthcare focus, and similar non-profit organizational structure serving vulnerable populations through music engagement.
• Carnegie Hall Lullaby Project: The Carnegie Hall Lullaby Project pairs professional musicians with pregnant women and families in healthcare and social service settings to write and sing personalized lullabies. Direct peer: same model of embedding professional musicians in healthcare/community settings to co-create music with vulnerable populations, anchored by a major cultural institution.
• SongwritingWith:Soldiers: SongwritingWith:Soldiers pairs professional songwriters with military veterans and service members to write and record original songs as a form of creative therapy. Direct peer: same model of co-creating music with vulnerable populations through long-term partnerships with professional musicians, structured as a non-profit.

Broad incumbents

• Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network: Creative Forces is a federal initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts placing music and other art therapists at military and veteran medical facilities. Broad incumbent: operates in the same music-in-healthcare space but as part of a broader federal arts-and-healing portfolio, not as a single-methodology non-profit.
• Boston Symphony Orchestra Community Engagement Programs: The BSO runs a portfolio of community programs including music therapy in hospitals and elder-care settings. Broad incumbent: a major orchestra with overlapping community-music initiatives, but operates as part of a much larger concert institution rather than as a specialized healthcare-focused non-profit.
• VH1 Save The Music Foundation: VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a non-profit that partners with school districts and musicians to provide music education programs and resources. Broad incumbent: operates in adjacent music-education non-profit space, focused on K-12 rather than healthcare settings, but comparable in scale and donor-supported model.

Regional players

• Midori & Friends: Midori & Friends is a New York-based non-profit providing free music education and performance programs to underserved students. Regional player: same non-profit music-education model serving vulnerable populations, but focused on school-age children rather than older adults in healthcare settings.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2xqqq0j6f6ouDjkSjOBpcQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/irismusicproject

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Iris Music Project