News and Press
Music For All Seasons shares stories of healing, creativity, and community impact through music. Explore recent media coverage, organizational announcements, program highlights, and upcoming events.
Music For All Seasons to Honor Glen Ward at 35th Anniversary Gala
Music For All Seasons
September 18, 2026
Founder and President of Rhythm & Relief to be recognized for his leadership, advocacy, and commitment to the healing power of music
Music For All Seasons will honor longtime music industry leader and philanthropist Glen Ward, Founder and President of Rhythm & Relief, as its 35th Anniversary Honoree during A Tribute to Our Founders, the organization’s 35th Anniversary Gala on Monday, November 9, 2026, at Liberty House in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Music For All Seasons Brings Its Mission to Life on Advice Unfiltered Podcast
Music For All Seasons
August 20, 2026
Special live episode explores 35 years of music, connection and community, highlights Voices of Valor, and features the show’s first-ever live musical performance.
Music For All Seasons appeared on a special live episode of Advice Unfiltered with Chris and Tony, filmed at Retromedia Sound Studios in Red Bank, New Jersey. The episode featured MFAS representatives, musicians and veterans from Soldier On, a special video message from Jon Stewart, and the show’s first-ever live musical performance culminating with “We Made It Home (The Journey)” by Two Minds.
Voices of Valor Releases “Come Alive!” by Gentle Breeze
Music For All Seasons
June 17, 2026
Original song created by Veterans through Music For All Seasons’ Voices of Valor program reflects hope, resilience, and finding connection through shared experience.
Music For All Seasons announces the release of “Come Alive!,” an original song created by Gentle Breeze through Voices of Valor at Soldier On in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. The Veterans transformed their stories, experiences, and perspectives into an original song about hope, resilience, and finding connection through shared experience.
Voices of Valor Releases “I Stand Tall” by Changing Lanes
Music For All Seasons
June 16, 2026
Original song created by Veterans through Music For All Seasons’ Voices of Valor program reflects resilience, strength, and perseverance.
Music For All Seasons announces the release of “I Stand Tall,” an original song created by Changing Lanes through Voices of Valor at Veteran’s Haven South in Winslow, New Jersey. What began as conversations, shared experiences, and personal reflections became an original song telling a story of resilience, strength, and perseverance.
Voices of Change Releases “Sinking” by Broken and Alive
Music For All Seasons
May 30, 2026
Original song created through Music For All Seasons’ Voices of Change program transforms conversations about grief, loss, healing, and lived experiences into music.
Music For All Seasons announces the release of “Sinking,” an original song created by Broken and Alive through Voices of Change in partnership with Common Ground Grief Center. What began as conversations about grief, loss, healing, and lived experiences became lyrics, music, and ultimately a professionally recorded song.
Voices of Change Expands Through New Partnership with Common Ground Grief Center
Music For All Seasons
April 14, 2026
Music For All Seasons continues healing-centered songwriting program supporting children, teens, and families navigating grief and trauma.
Music For All Seasons is partnering with Common Ground Grief Center to continue and expand Voices of Change. Through songwriting, collaboration, and guided emotional expression, the program creates a supportive space for children, teens, and families navigating grief and trauma to express themselves creatively, build connections, and transform personal experiences into meaningful artistic work.
The Wide World of Music Project Celebrates Successful Pilot Year
Music For All Seasons
April 9, 2026
Music For All Seasons program brings global music experiences, creativity, and cultural connection to youth across New Jersey.
The Wide World of Music Project successfully completed its pilot year, providing 30 programs led by 10 professional Music For All Seasons musicians. Through interactive, hands-on experiences, young people explored instruments, rhythms, and musical traditions from around the world while developing skills including collaboration, problem-solving, confidence, and creative expression.
Music For All Seasons Continues Partnership with Cali Collective
Music For All Seasons
April 7, 2026
Live performances at Josephine’s Place bring connection, artistry, and meaningful musical experiences to the community.
Music For All Seasons continues its partnership with the Cali Collective, developed in collaboration with Montclair State University, bringing graduate-level musicians into community-centered musical outreach. Recent performances at Josephine’s Place and SAGE Eldercare created opportunities for live music, artistic collaboration, and meaningful connection while supporting emerging musicians through mentorship and performance experiences.
Voices of Valor Releases “I Won’t Back Down” by The Lyons Heart
Music For All Seasons
March 2, 2026
Original song created by Veterans at the Lyons VA Medical Center reflects resilience, brotherhood, and healing through music.
Music For All Seasons announces the release of “I Won’t Back Down,” an original song created and performed by The Lyons Heart through Voices of Valor. Guided by facilitators Benny Harrison and Laura Blaine, the Veterans transformed their personal stories into a song reflecting resilience, brotherhood, perseverance, and healing—with every lyric written by the Veterans themselves.
Voices of Valor Releases “You Make Me Smile” by Proud Vets of Paramus
Music For All Seasons
February 12, 2026
Original song created through Music For All Seasons program celebrates connection, resilience, and the healing power of music.
Music For All Seasons announces the release of “You Make Me Smile,” an original song written and performed by the Proud Vets of Paramus through Voices of Valor. The uplifting song grew from shared creativity and personal experiences, celebrating friendship, resilience, healing, and the connections developed through music.
Music For All Seasons Celebrates 35 Years of Healing Through Music
Music For All Seasons
January 10, 2026
Organization enters milestone year with expanded programs, community partnerships, and a vision for the future.
For 35 years, Music For All Seasons has brought comfort, connection, creativity, and healing to under-resourced communities through the power of music. As MFAS celebrates its 35th anniversary, the organization continues expanding its programs, partnerships, and live musical experiences while looking toward the future.
Voices of Valor Releases “Can’t Tame the Herd” by Unheard Herd
Music For All Seasons
December 20, 2025
Original song created by Veterans through Music For All Seasons reflects courage, resilience, and the power of self-expression through music.
Music For All Seasons congratulates the Veterans of Unheard Herd on the release of “Can’t Tame the Herd,” an original song created through Voices of Valor. Through collaborative songwriting and recording sessions, the Veterans transformed lived experiences into a bold and authentic song centered on strength, identity, and personal expression.
Voices of Valor Releases “Wait a Minute (It’s Up to Me and You)” by Exit 7
Music For All Seasons
December 4, 2025
Original song created by Veterans through Music For All Seasons reflects resilience, hope, and the power of connection through music.
Music For All Seasons announces the release of “Wait a Minute (It’s Up to Me and You),” an original song collaboratively written and performed by Veterans participating in Voices of Valor. The Exit 7 group transformed personal stories and lived experiences into a song centered on healing, encouragement, and human connection.
Honoring Our Veterans: Voices of Valor Brings Community Together Through Music and Healing
Music For All Seasons
November 11, 2025
Honoring Veterans through music, storytelling, and connection.
Music For All Seasons welcomed Veterans, musicians, supporters, and community members to Honoring Our Veterans: Voices of Valor at Hopewell Valley Vineyards. The evening featured live performances, Veteran stories, and original music created through Voices of Valor, including “We Made It Home (The Journey).”
Jersey veterans debut new song at Voices of Valor event at Hopewell Valley Vineyards
These veterans have a song to sing.
Vets from the Soldier On residences at the Gordon H. Mansfield Veteran’s Community in Tinton Falls debuted a new song called ”We Made It Home (The Journey),” Monday, Nov. 10 at the Music for All Seasons’ Voices of Valor event at the Hopewell Valley Vineyards in Pennington.
Voices of Valor Brings Veteran-Written Songs to Hopewell Valley Vineyards on Nov. 10
On the eve of Veterans Day, November 10, 2025, Music For All Seasons will gather supporters at Hopewell Valley Vineyards to celebrate Voices of Valor, a program that helps veterans turn lived experience into original songs. The evening centers on the songs and the stories behind them and invites the community to sustain the work so that more veterans can be served at no cost. It is a meaningful way to honor service while enjoying a wine tasting and a community silent auction in support of a good cause.
Link to Article
A Performance Partnership with Montclair University
A Legacy of Connection
Music For All Seasons is proud to be sharing this article about the amazing collaboration between the Cali Collective at Montclair State University and Music For All Seasons (MFAS), now completing our third year of a partnership in which MFAS has mentored Montclair students in many non-traditional program settings.
We hope you enjoy reading this article. If you would like more information please call us at 908 322-6300.
Music For All Seasons Awarded Grant from The Westfield Foundation
Supporting “The Wide World of Music Project”
Music For All Seasons in Scotch Plains, NJ, is excited to announce that it has received a generous grant from The Westfield Foundation. This funding will support the launch of the Wide World of Music Project, an engaging program aimed at introducing young people to diverse musical cultures through interactive and hands-on learning.
Featured in Two River Times
The Power of Music
We’re thrilled to share that our program Voices of Valor, dedicated to supporting veterans through the power of music, was recently featured in Two River Times. This recognition highlights the meaningful impact we’re making in the lives of veterans by offering a creative outlet for healing and connection.
Music has a special way of bringing people together, and we’re proud to see our veterans finding strength and community through it. The article sheds light on the powerful role music can play in the lives of those who have served, helping them navigate challenges and rediscover joy.
We’re incredibly grateful for this feature and excited to continue our work in helping veterans through music.
Music For All Season Featured on Union News Daily
Receives Outstanding Service Award
We are excited to share that our “Music For All Season” program has been featured in Union News Daily! This incredible recognition highlights our commitment to bringing music and community together. Through our program, we strive to make music accessible to everyone, fostering creativity, joy, and connection among participants of all ages.
In addition to the feature, we’re proud to announce that we have been honored with the “Outstanding Service” award from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Union County. This award recognizes our dedication to enriching lives and making a positive impact in the community. We’re incredibly grateful for this acknowledgment and would like to thank everyone who has supported us along the way.
As we continue our mission, we look forward to reaching even more individuals and making music a part of every season of life. Stay tuned for more exciting updates!
Mentorship
Our Third Year Partnering with Montclair State University
The MFAS & MSU Cali Collective working in partnership to mentor the next generation!
- Provides training and experience for students’ performances.
- Promotes the importance of presenting interactive programs for special-needs and under-resourced audiences in unconventional performances venues.
- Provides financial support for young musicians through stipends.
30th Anniversary and Grammy Museum Event
Mind, body and soul: Music For All Seasons helps NJ veterans, kids, seniors and more
Chris JordanThe group celebrated its 30th anniversary on March 27 with a concert by participants of its Voices of Valor program at the Grammy Museum Experience Prudential Center in Newark.
Voices of Valor featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer
The song began coming to life on Zoom, and later, in the parking lot of the Red Lion Diner in Southampton.
Masked and seated apart at safe distances, eight singers — all of them veterans, seniors, and women of color — linked lyrics into lines and threaded strands of melody into verses.
Jewish Women’s Foundation
Voices of Valor, an award-winning, innovative, song-writing initiative for veterans, was founded eight years ago by Music For All Seasons co-directors Brian Dallow and Rena Fruchter and is based in Scotch Plains. It is the first of three programs supported this year by the Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey (JWFNJ), a donor-advised fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ.
Music For All Seasons’ Voices of Valor Program Receives New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award
In a ceremony in Trenton, New Jersey on May 19, 2019, MFAS’ Voices of Valor program was recognized for its extraordinary service to the community with the 2019 New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award for Public Service. In its 2018/19 New Jersey program, Voices of Valor has been offering programs to the veterans at Lyons Hospital, Lyons, NJ; Veteran’s Haven North, Glen Gardner, NJ; Veteran’s Haven South in Hammonton, NJ; and several other locations for the past eight years. The program pairs military veterans with professional musicians and psychology mentors in a nine-week session that helps veterans reintegrate into civilian life through group songwriting and recording. During this period the veterans share their experiences and work with the musicians to create the songs enabling the process of healing. In week eight, the songs are recorded in a studio, followed by a CD release party in week nine.
(Left) MFAS Artistic Director Rena Fruchter and Executive Director Brian Dallow at the ceremony in Trenton, NJ.
Music For All Seasons Receives Grant from National Endowment for the Arts
Music For All Seasons (MFAS) is proud to announce they have received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for fiscal year 2021. MFAS has been an NEA recipient for the past seventeen years.
MFAS has received an NEA Arts Works grant of $15,000 to provide live, interactive musical programs in shelters serving children who are victims of domestic violence in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and California. The NEA is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence.
In addition, MFAS was one of a small number of recipients to be awarded a special grant of $50,000 to assist with COVID-19 programming and costs.
Voices of Valor Receives Award from Veteran’s Haven
Scotch Plains, NJ (December 2016) — Voices of Valor®, an award-winning program to help veterans heal through musical expression was honored with a special, first-ever “My Brother’s Keeper Award” by Veteran’s Haven North, a transitional housing program for homeless veterans, located in Glen Gardner, NJ.
Voices Of Valor' Helps Veterans Heal Through Music
By SAMANTHA HENRY 12/28/12 03:00 AM ET EST
MONTCLAIR, N.J. — During stressful times as a combat medic in Afghanistan, Mason Sullivan found solace in Vivaldi. New Jersey native Nairobi Cruz was comforted by country music, a genre she had never heard before joining the Army. For Jose Mercedes, it was an eclectic iPod mix that helped him cope with losing an arm during a tour of duty in Iraq.
Spyro Gyra guitarist finds working with Voices of Valor to be a life-changing experience
Written by Julio Fernandez, Voices of Valor facilitator For the NJ Courier
I have been the guitarist with the Grammy-nominated jazz group Spyro Gyra for three decades, recording more than 20 albums and touring all over the world, playing for audiences of thousands. So what has drawn me to the Voices of Valor project, where I get to work in an intimate setting with small groups of veterans, writing songs?
A Healing Art
By: BYRON JANIS Updated May 7, 2014 6:55 p.m.ET
Can music heal? There’s been a great deal of study by neuroscientists on the different ways music acts upon the brain, affecting our behavior, memory and the like. But there is also growing scientific evidence attesting to its curative powers.
Helping veterans get back into the beat of civilian life.
By Peggy McGlone/The StarLedger Friday, October 14, 2011
John O’Boyle/The Star-Ledger Tom Hankerson of Levittown, PA listens to drum circle instructor Richard Reiter during a program
called “Voices of Valor” that helps returning vets relieve and manage stress through music and songwriting. The program takes place inside the Rutgers student center in New Brunswick.
Voices of Valor helps vets transition through music
Written by Bob Makin For the NJ Courier News and Home News Tribune/Asbury Park Press
SCOTCH PLAINS — For the 27th time in less than two years, Voices of Valor is about to release a song recording that helped a group of veterans release the emotional wounds of war and other issues related to military service.
Lorin Maazel interview
On the verge of his final days at the New York Philharmonic, and with a new summer festival up his sleeve, Lorin Maazel chats with Nancy Shear at Steinway Hall.
Lorin Maazel first waved a stick in front of the New York Philharmonic in 1942, at the jaw-dropping age of twelve. His preternatural talent for leading musicians had been noticed and mentored in two of the cities where he lived as a boy, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh, and the dramatic result was his appearance at Manhattan’s Lewisohn Stadium, then the Philharmonic’s summer venue.
J&J & SAH Award
WASHINGTON, DC, February 12, 2008 – Today, the Johnson & Johnson/Society for the Arts in Healthcare partnership announced the 2008 award recipients of the annual grant program, designed to bridge the gap between illness and health and promote the use of the arts to enhance the healthcare experience for patients, their families and caregivers.
NEA funding
An outdoor jazz festival presented by Jazz House Kids in Montclair, a Wagner opera in Princeton and in-school dance residencies in East Orange are among 15 New Jersey projects that will share $284,500 from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Distinguished British Cellist to Head Music For All Seasons Advisory Board
Music For All Seasons is pleased to announce that Steven Isserlis CBE, has been elected President of the Board of Advisors, a position founded and previously held by Dudley Moore.
Scotch Plains Non-Profit Offers Music As Therapy
By Rachel Gillett (Open Post) Updated August 9, 2012 at 2:40 am
The New Jersey State Council on the Arts awarded more than $450,000 in grants to Union County arts organizations and projects last week.
First "Respite For Caregivers" musical program given in Union County
Scotch Plains, NJ: On Thursday October 18, Music for all Seasons gave the first performance in its new Respite for Caregivers program at the home of Ethel and Harold Mayland in Union, New Jersey. The Ebbets Field Trio, composed of David Hattner, clarinet, Gill Dejean, bassoon, and Meighan Stoops, clarinet, performed for an hour, in a program bringing live music into the home of a couple who were celebrating the combined occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary and her 84th birthday.
