A New Chapter for Anderson Music Therapy Services

Since 5 Points Music began in 2017, Anderson Music Therapy Services has been an important part of our story and a valued partner in our mission to explore the power of sound. From the beginning, 5 Points has believed that music belongs to anyone and everyone. Our work has always extended beyond concerts and live performances to explore the many ways music can improve lives, and help people connect with themselves and one another. Music therapy has been a vital part of our work, and Anderson Music Therapy Services has been an essential part of making that vision possible.

Growing a Music Therapy Program Together

Since our partnership began, 5 Points Music has helped make music therapy more accessible to individuals and families throughout Southwest Virginia. With Anderson Music Therapy, we have supported more than 100 clients and invested more than $60,000 in music therapy services.

The people who have participated in these programs represent a wide range of life experiences. Our partnership has helped provide opportunities for children with developmental disabilities, veterans, individuals recovering from traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, and others who can benefit from therapeutic support through music.

Some of the earliest programs took place right here at 5 Points Music Sanctuary, where children participated in small-group music therapy while their parents took part in supportive sessions of their own. Other programs have focused on helping children develop communication and social skills, express emotions, manage stress, and build confidence. These programs have given us an opportunity to see what can happen when a music venue becomes a place for healing, inclusion, and connection.

Celebrating Noel Anderson

As Anderson Music Therapy Services moves forward, we also want to recognize its founder, Noel Anderson.

Noel established Anderson Music Therapy in 2011 after seeing a need for greater access to music therapy services in the Roanoke community. Over the past 15 years, she has grown the practice into a resource for individuals and families across Southwest Virginia.

She and her team have helped us put our belief in the power of sound into practice. Their work has allowed us to reach people who may not otherwise have had access to music therapy and has helped shape our understanding of what an inclusive music community can look like.

We are deeply grateful for the time, energy, expertise, and compassion Noel has brought to this work and to the many people whose lives have been touched by it.

Welcoming the Next Chapter

After 15 years of leading Anderson Music Therapy Services, Noel is entrusting the ownership and future of the practice to Cassie, who has been part of the organization for more than a decade. Cassie recently served as Acting CEO, giving her an opportunity to lead the organization while continuing to support the clients, families, therapists, and community partners who make AMTS what it is. We are excited to see where her leadership takes Anderson Music Therapy Services next!!

While leadership may be changing, the heart of the partnership remains the same. 5 Points and Anderson Music Therapy share a belief that music can be a robust resource for people at every stage of life, and that access to meaningful therapeutic services should not be limited by financial or other barriers.

We are proud of everything we have been able to accomplish together since 2017, and even more excited about the possibilities ahead.

Congratulations to Cassie as she steps into this new role, and thank you to Noel for the foundation she has built and the many ways she has helped make the 5 Points vision a reality!!!

We look forward to continuing this work together and to discovering what the next chapter holds.