Every day, countless veterans in our community silently carry the invisible wounds of service – post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, depression, and the lasting impacts of transition to civilian life. Resounding Joy’s Sounds of Service program offers a powerful, non-threatening path to healing through music therapy and community-based music engagement.
Since launching the program, Resounding Joy has served thousands of veterans in San Diego County through one-on-one sessions, drumming and guitar workshops, songwriting groups, and live performance opportunities. From casual jam sessions to their veteran-led Sounds of Service Band, these experiences help participants rediscover identity, reduce isolation, and reconnect with their peers.
Now in her second year leading the organization, Executive Director and CEO Kerri Fox shared the power of music therapy with GB Magazine San Diego, “Music therapy can be a lifeline – especially for those recovering from trauma, navigating transition, or coping with invisible wounds. Through this work, we see resilience rebuilt and connection restored. Music has the remarkable ability to meet people where they are and move them forward.”
Resounding Joy offers these services at no cost to the veteran, thanks to the support of grants, generous donors, and mission-aligned partners. The program reaches veterans navigating PTSD, substance use recovery, and neurological or physical challenges – offering structure, connection, and hope through creative expression.
“As both a veteran and a hospital administrator, I have seen how traditional care models can fall short in addressing the complex needs of those who have served,” said Kent Hawthorn, Resounding Joy Board Member and Senior Director, Surgery and Cardiac Services at Scripps Health. “Music therapy offers a clinically effective, trauma-informed approach that fosters trust and connection. Resounding Joy is filling a critical gap in care for our military and veteran communities.”
This fall, Resounding Joy invites the community to experience that healing in action. The 7th Annual Living Your Dreams fundraising concert takes place Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the historic Point Loma Assembly. Funds raised from ticket sales and sponsorships directly support free music therapy services for San Diego’s military community.
For many participants, music becomes a bridge to healing- and a reminder that they are not alone.
For more information about Resounding Joy visit www.resoundingjoyinc.org.
