Community of Note Founder and Director Jena Vangjel is a 2025 recipient of an ArtsKC Inspiration Grant. The funds from this grant will make possible a weekly Family Music Class and a monthly Drum Circle for IntersectKC. You can learn more about the grant and Jena's project here.

After several years of creating music and connection in Louisiana, Community of Note has officially found its footing in Kansas City!
When I started Community of Note in 2018, my goal was simple: to bring music to people who needed it most—residents of shelters and transitional housing programs, often navigating the hardest chapters of their lives. Since then, we’ve led joyful classes, shared performances, and built community through instruments and voices.
Last summer, I moved to Kansas City with my family. While the transition has been full of change, I’m thrilled to share that Community of Note is back in action. This spring, we launched our first Missouri-based program: a weekly music class at Rose Brooks, a domestic violence shelter in Kansas City. Each week, I bring instruments and activities for residents and we make music together.
I’m currently pursuing grant support and looking for local partners who share our belief that music can be a tool for healing, dignity, and joy so that Community of Note can expand its programming. If you’d like to support our work—or if you know of a shelter or community program that might benefit from a musical partnership—please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Here’s to new beginnings, and to the power of music to connect us, wherever we are.
With gratitude,
Jena

Thanks to a generous donation from the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Community of Note had the pleasure of hosting The Michael Foster Project at the Capital Area Alliance for the Homeless this morning. What a treat! There is nothing quite like the energy that this group generates in a performance.  

The fall of 2023 brought a variety of exciting musical groups to the Capital Area Alliance. Community of Note was happy to host:
November 7th, 2023: String Trio (Rachel Reese-Kollmeyer, Rafael Galvan-Herrera, and Jaime Compton-Galvan)
October 11th, 2023: LSU Choirs led by Trey Davis
September 27th, 2023: Members of the LPO (Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra)  HornSound

We will conclude the year with a holiday sing-a-long on December 13th, played by the LSU Faculty Brass Quintet, with singing led by Dr. Kay White. 

Additionally, Community of Note continues to provide their monthly Kids' Music Class at the St. Vincent de Paul Family Shelter. 

Beginning in the summer of 2023, a monthly Children's Music Class will be offered at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. This class will take place on Saturday mornings. More information is forthcoming!  

In November of 2022, Community of Note resumed monthly concerts at the Capital Area Alliance after a Covid-19 hiatus. Since that time, several concerts have occurred. We were excited to host the LSU Faculty String Trio in November, a brass quintet Christmas sing-a-long in December, and Dr. Hana Beloglavec on trombone in January. The spring will bring continued monthly programing! 

On April 22nd, the LPO Hornsound performed window concerts at the Landmark Nursing Home for Community of Note's first performance since before the Covid-19 pandemic. Residents were able to enjoy a variety of pieces as performed by the horn quintet, which is comprised of the french horn section of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Members of the LPO Hornsound: Mollie Pate, Josiah Bullach, Jamie Leff, Kevin Winter, and Mark Trotter.