Semper Sound concert to support music therapy for area military

Military veteran Will Weatherspoon will be in Semper Sound concert.

Concert to raise money for San Diego nonprofit Resounding Joy’s music therapy program for service members and their families, called “Semper Sound,” which helps active-duty and veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injury and depression

San Diego Union-Tribune

Oct. 6, 2021 6:10 AM PT

ENCINITAS —

A Semper Sound benefit concert titled “Living Your Dreams” that will benefit area military is set for Oct. 16 at the Encinitas Elks Lodge.

The concert will raise money for local nonprofit Resounding Joy’s Semper Sound music therapy program for service members and their families.

The military music therapy program, which started 11 years ago through a request from Naval Medical Center San Diego, helps military members and veterans working through challenges such as traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress and depression. It is open to active-duty service members and veterans of all ages, needs and abilities.

The music therapy is intended to enrich participants and help them progress toward non-musical goals, such as symptom management, pain reduction, career development and family bonding.

Semper Sound is offered in the San Diego area through military bases, veteran facilities and at Resounding Joy’s Music Wellness Center in Sorrento Valley. Most clients qualify for free services.

The Semper Sound Band was formed by military members in the music therapy program who wanted to play music and share camaraderie. The band’s repertoire is diverse, and genres include Americana, contemporary rock, country, heavy metal, jazz, salsa, pop and funk. Members of the Semper Sound Band will be among the performers at Resounding Joy’s 2021 flagship concert on Oct. 16.

Along with service members and veterans, the concert will feature musicians from the community performing original music and covers of favorite songs. Performers include military veterans James Boyden, Joel Hamlet, Corey Jernigan, Will Weatherspoon, Jason Danley and Devi Whitlock and military spouse Jennifer Santis. The Island Mist band will open the event. The concert is hosted by Resounding Joy in collaboration with Encinitas Elks Lodge and UCSD Veterans Staff Association and sponsored by the Horst Family Foundation.

The event is 5:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Encinitas Elks Lodge,1393 Windsor Rd, Cardiff. Tickets are $30 or $75 for VIP early admission and table seating. Parking is free. Service members and veterans can use promo code ‘MILITARY’ for 50 percent off. Food will be sold at the event by local vendors and there will be raffle prizes. For tickets, visit: resoundingjoyinc.org/lyd2021.

Linda McIntosh

Linda McIntosh used to lead a double life as a technical writer for an engineering company and a feature writer for the Chicago Tribune. Since joining the U-T in 2002, she has focused on writing North County community features and calendars. She also covers community news at Camp Pendleton. Linda has a master’s degree in English from the University of Chicago.