music in residence ■

Bringing Music and Community Home

Music in Residence exists to strengthen human connection and well-being. We bring community residents and local music artists together in homes, creating spaces that foster community and sustain the artists who sustain us.

Everything we need is right here — we just need something to bring us together.

Founder Story

"Several years ago, during the height of covid and in the throes of grief, I found myself in a Target parking lot..."Read the Founder Story →

The Need

Today, many people in our community face a growing sense of alienation, anxiety, and isolation. Loneliness is a declared epidemic that directly threatens our individual and collective health. Simultaneously, local artists navigate a broken system that rewards fame over community service, forcing them to compete for attention online to survive. Artists often lack the essential community, space, and economic support needed to sustain their creative work.Music in Residence is the bridge. By connecting neighbors in local homes through music, we create an upward spiral: artists earn a living wage for meaningful work, while residents find the healing and human connection that can mend our social fabric. We transform abundant local resources into mutual strength, deepening the bonds and resilience of both artists and neighbors.Everything we need is right here — we just need something to bring us together.

What We Believe

We're deepening human connection through music and togetherness, and creating a better ecosystem for professional music artists — where instead of needing to become famous to survive, they succeed by supporting their own community.We believe that this will help communities make a fundamental shift from fight-or-flight to creativity...We believe that this shift is crucial for where we are as a culture today...We believe that we can make this shift by starting in the local community, particularly at the heart of the community — our artists and our homes.Read more about the vision behind Music in Residence →

Who We Are

Music in Residence is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that supports community wellbeing by connecting local artists and hosts to bring people together, in homes, with music.We do this through a tradition as old as time: people in a room with music. Community members host an evening in their home for friends and neighbors, and invite a local music artist to perform. People connect — to each other and themselves. Artists are paid well for meaningful work. Community is strengthened."I couldn't think of a more meaningful and fun way to start the year than by hosting a local artist in our home with friends and neighbors. Experiencing music together like this fed our souls."
— Music in Residence hostWe envision a world where experiences like these are commonplace — we call them soirées — a way for music to support society, and for artists to build sustainable careers. Not through luck or fame, but through the mutual support of their own community.

How it Works

A host opens their home — for an evening with friends and neighbors.A local artist performs — paid a professional wage for meaningful work.Community is strengthened — people connect to each other and themselves.If you're interested in becoming a host, read our hosting doc, then reach out via email and we'll start the conversation.

What We've Accomplished

In 2023–24, founders and professional musicians Nathan and Heather Peterson hosted over 20 soirées and 30 artist gatherings, welcoming a wide range of community members into their Oak Park living room.In 2025, they founded Music in Residence to create an infrastructure that pays artists a living wage and helps more people host music and community in their homes.In 2026, Music in Residence began expanding into the community, empowering its first community hosts.

  • 20+ home concerts

  • 30+ artist gatherings

  • Hundreds of people connected

  • $56K raised to date

We now have a board of directors, hosting and fundraising committees, and are actively seeking your support.

"Although I have been a working classical cellist for more than half my life, I did not identify as an artist. It was that room full of people who invited me to ask, 'what if I did?' That simple seed meant I would start composing, curate music for a ballet, and organize a social chamber music series with the Oak Park Park District. Music in Residence cared for me in a way no one or nothing else ever has, and I'll never be the same because of it."

— Jean, classical cellist and Music in Residence artist

Evidence

Ireland's Basic Income for the Arts (2022–2025) supported 2,000 artists and generated €1.39 return for every €1 invested. Artists spent more time creating, experienced less financial stress, and reported improved wellbeing. The program is now permanent. Oak Park equivalent: ~20 artists — close to the scale we're building toward.

The U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness an epidemic — lacking connection increases mortality risk comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Research shows music significantly reduces depression and anxiety. Creating spaces for live music and human connection isn't a luxury — it's an essential need.

Our Artists

Here is a list of some local artists (more to come) who would love to partner with you to create an unforgettable experience for your friends and neighbors.If you're interested in working with one of these artists, reach out via email and we'll make an introduction.

Jean Hatmaker, Classical Cellist

As a classically trained cellist, my primary desire as a musician is to serve as a conduit between the gorgeous art I admire and the lovely souls who trust me with their attention, one concert at a time. I believe that classical music belongs to everyone, can and should meet them on their terms, and requires no amount of initiation to embrace. I’m curious about how different pieces of music make people feel, the conversations they inspire, and the passions they can ignite. I live in Oak Park with my husband, my cat, and my dog, and enjoy a robust performance career with several regional orchestras along with my chamber music enterprises: Kontras Quartet, and Merida Trio. I also teach privately in my home and at Grace Lutheran School in River Forest. I’m an emerging composer with a few pieces under my belt, including a ballet I just premiered in Boulder in the spring of 2025. Outside of my musical pursuits, I’m a “retired” amateur ballerina, and am dabbling with reading tarot.Favorite store in Oak Park: Village and Vessel
Favorite OP restaurant: Citrine
Favorite book read in 2025: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Ask me about: the story behind Janacek’s String Quartet #2Instagram: @cellogenie84Listen to Jean's music →
Learn more about Jean on her website →

Constance Volk, Flutes and Art

Learn more about Constance on her website →

Sara Beth Thomas, Singer-Songwriter

Sara Beth Thomas is a rising jazz vocalist based in the vibrant Chicago music scene. Born and raised in Mexico and Portland, her unique cross-cultural background infuses her music with a rich blend of influences, from Latin rhythms to jazz standards. As a passionate storyteller, her love for music blossomed into a career as both a jazz vocalist and singer-songwriter. Whether through her soulful melodies or her heartfelt lyrics, Sara Beth captures the essence of emotion and experience, weaving tales that resonate with audiences across diverse genres, cultures, and ages. Find her performing in Chicago jazz clubs such as Le Piano and Clara.Listen to Sara Beth's music →
Learn more about Sara Beth on her website →

Nathan Peterson, Singer-Songwriter

From Nathan:
I've been singing and songwriting for over 26 years. My songs are my way to try to make sense of life. I write about what is most deeply personal, and find that those are the things that resonate most with others. I played with a band for the first 18 years of my career, and became solo 10 years ago during the incredibly painful and beautiful experience of my 4th child's life and death. I've since also written a couple of books on living fully amidst uncertainty, and I often speak at events—helping groups calm their nervous system and connect more deeply with each other and themselves. To me, music is a powerful energy—a vibration that can break down walls and heal hearts. In addition to making music, I love to support others in find and share their own creative, authentic voice.Listen to Nathan's music on Spotify →
Learn more about Nathan on his website →

Donny Mahlmeister, Electronic Musician

Listen to Donny's music →

Our Board and Staff

Get Involved

This vision needs you. Here's how to join us:Become a Host — Open your home for a concert. We connect you with a local artist and support you the whole way.Become a Sponsor — $3,000 funds one concert. Your investment goes directly to artists and community.Become a Donor — Major gifts fund the operations core that makes everything else possible.Join Our Board — Help build a strong foundation for the organization and its mission.

Our vision is to support 1% of the homes in our community to become Music in Residence homes. We're starting in Oak Park with the intention of supporting more communities in the future.

Click below to become a donor, or reach out if you'd like to chat.Music in Residence
Oak Park, Illinois
email us: [email protected]
EIN: 33−4802640