Upward Notes

Website Contact the organization

Upward Notes brings classical music out of the concert hall and into the community while teaching and encouraging well-being for the audience and performer.

🎶 Music belongs to everyone. Upward Notes is a community-based initiative that brings the healing power of music into everyday spaces—beyond the concert hall and into the heart of our communities. Currently based in Sarasota, Florida, Upward Notes creates shared musical experiences in shelters, assisted living homes, animal rescues, and more. Our performances support both audience and artist mental health, grounded in empathy, connection, and presence. We’re a volunteer-powered, nonprofit organization committed to using music as a tool for transformation, well-being, and joy.

10/09/2026

Friday | Music | Gathering 4U 🌻 🌨️ ☂️ 🎧 🩵

Key Chorale + Upward Notes =

Happy Friday, people! Be well. Be kind. Listen to music with the people you love!

🐥

10/08/2026

Natalie: “Does anyone know what kind of instrument this is?”

🙋‍♀️ Young participant: “A CELLO! More specifically, a cello dating back to 1803, bearing a Ventapane label, although some believe it was actually made by one of his students, possibly Rafael de Blasio.

At some point, the instrument traveled through England. We know this because repairs made to the cello are characteristic of work done in England during that period.

And here's the really interesting part. The cello comes from the same coast of Italy as your grandfather, Enrico Cretella. That's why you named her cello Ricki, in his honor!”

Natalie: “That's exactly right! AMAZING!” 😂

Okay, maybe that's not exactly how the conversation went.

But every instrument has a story, and Ricki's spans more than 200 years, crosses borders, and carries a very personal connection to Natalie's family.

And now, Ricki's story continues in the communities where we gather.

Bring Music Where It Belongs. 💛

09/30/2026

Thank you for allowing us to be in this moment!

The Upward Notes mission is to support the mental well-being of both our audiences and our performers. At the foundation of our approach is the PERMA Model:
- P – Positive Emotion: Feeling good. Experiencing joy, gratitude, hope, and contentment.
- E – Engagement: Finding flow. Becoming so absorbed in an experience or activity that you lose track of time.
- R – Relationships: Making authentic connections. Building supportive relationships and a sense of belonging with family, friends, and community.
- M – Meaning: Finding purpose. Serving or belonging to something larger than yourself.
- A – Accomplishment: Experiencing growth and achievement. Pursuing goals and developing skills for the satisfaction that comes from learning and succeeding.

Thank you to our partner in harmony: Key Choral

Thank you to Girls Inc. for everything you do!

09/26/2026

We haven’t talked about this enough: The foundation of Upward Notes comes from

a “friend-raiser” thrown by these three people…

Kay Aidlen, Sheila Vincent, and Lydia Landa.

John and Natalie performed.

Since then, we’ve expanded our reach, increased the number of performances, and brought moments of joy and mental well-being to thousands of people.

Right? Thousands? Easily…

We did a headcount at our gatherings during this first week of Season 10. Upward Notes gathered with more than 400 people.

We were as surprised as you!

Anyhoo, thank you, Kay, Sheila, and Lydia, for believing in our mission. You are part of our foundation, now and forever.

And thank you, John and Michael, for everything you’ve done to help make Upward Notes what it is today.

💜 🌼 🎼

09/23/2026

We gathered at the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. Our hope is that our music—and our time together—will help ease some minds. That a little smiling, a little peace, and a moment together can support our mental well-being.

09/20/2026

Faces of Upward Notes | Bharat Chandra

An extraordinary artist, Bharat has given his time, his musicianship, and—most importantly—himself to the communities where we gather. His contribution to Upward Notes and the people we serve cannot be overstated.

We are profoundly grateful to have Bharat as part of the Upward Notes family.

This is Bharat Chandra. This is a Face of Upward Notes.

Bring Music Where It Belongs.

09/19/2026

2 DAYS.

Monday, we gather again!

Address

Sarasota, FL

Website

https://upwardnotes.nataliehelmcello.com/index.php/about/, https://www.givingchallenge.org/organizations/upward-notes-in

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Upward Notes posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Upward Notes:

Want your organization to be the top-listed non profit organization in Sarasota?