Bringing music to the senior population of Dane County, WI.
Supporting seniors & continuing musicians.
Dimensions In Sound and The Studio Orchestra, Inc. (DISSO) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Madison, Wisconsin.
The organization’s two separate music ensembles are dedicated to providing a space for volunteer musicians to perform for people living in senior retirement and assisted living facilities who may be unable to seek out big band and orchestral entertainment because of their advanced age or disabilities.
Dimensions in Sound
The Studio Orchestra
Ensembles
Dimensions In Sound consists of the traditional instrumentation of the big band era: saxophone, trombone and trumpet sections, keyboard, guitar, bass and drums. The band’s 17 musicians perform big band music of the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s, as well as polkas, waltzes, holiday and rock selections.
The Studio Orchestra, features strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion sections. The orchestra’s 35 musicians perform a variety of orchestral music including classical, light classical, Broadway, holiday and popular standards.
Dimensions In Sound rehearses or performs on Tuesday evenings, September to May. The Studio Orchestra rehearses or performs on Wednesday evenings, September to May.
Learn more about our groups:
Who We Serve
DISSO’s primary focus is to bring high quality music to people living in senior retirement and assisted living facilities who may be unable to seek out big band and orchestral entertainment because of their advanced age or disabilities.
Together, DISSO’s two ensembles perform more than 20 concerts each year throughout Dane County and beyond.
DISSO also provides community service by giving performances for the homeless, non-profit fundraisers, and Badger Honor Flight “welcome home” receptions.
To help raise funds in support of DISSO’s mission, Dimensions In Sound also performs for wedding receptions, dances and other private functions. If you are interested in having DISSO play for a special event, please Contact Us.
Join Us!
We provide a space for volunteer adults to practice and continue to perform with their instruments. Maybe you played a band or orchestra instrument in high school but haven’t picked it up since then. Now’s your chance to play again and for a good cause!
DISSO’s two ensembles consist of friendly, volunteer musicians who have a passion for playing music and a desire to share their gifts of music with seniors. Many DISSO members played an instrument in high school or college and then, years later, wished for an opportunity to return to music and join a group that regularly performs for audiences.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the orchestra or band, please Contact Us. We’re often in need of new members or substitutes.
History
In 1977 Lonnie Nofzinger, Van Hise Middle School music teacher, founded Dimensions In Sound and, a year later, The Studio Orchestra. The ensembles grew out of a marching band Lonnie had organized for the 1976 Bicentennial Hill Farms neighborhood Fourth of July Parade. The marching band members consisted of parents of Lonnie’s students and other Hill Farms residents. Afterwards, many in the band agreed to meet weekly with Lonnie at Van Hise Middle School to rehearse music of the big band era. After occasionally performing for Van Hise teacher events, Lonnie and the musicians decided to share their love of music with the senior community. Since then, and now more than 40 years later, many dozens of DISSO musicians in both ensembles have performed more than seven hundred concerts and entertained and delighted more than 14,000 people throughout Dane County and beyond.
Sponsorships
Dimensions In Sound and The Studio Orchestra, Inc. (DISSO) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization governed by a board of directors.
The organization depends on the financial support of private and community sponsors to fulfill its mission of bringing live, high quality music to seniors and other people who don’t have easy access to big band and orchestral music provided by DISSO’s two ensembles. The financial support that we receive enables us to conduct our series of concerts and rehearsals, numbering about 60 each year.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, or if you know of an individual, business or organization that may be able to help us in our mission, please Contact Us.
Contributions of $250 or more will be recognized in programs distributed to the audience at every performance. We very much appreciate your support.
Endowment Fund
The Lonnie Nofzinger Endowment supporting Dimensions in Sound & The Studio Orchestra is maintained by Madison Community Foundation and serves the long-term benefit of DISSO.
In the early years, Nofzinger, who passed away in 2005, shouldered most of DISSO’s expenses himself. Today, donations and grants — including one from Madison Community Foundation — help meet expenses.
Donate
Now you can donate to us electronically.
Click the button below and follow the prompts to donate using a credit card or your personal PayPal account.
Also available is an option to donate to us monthly. We very much appreciate it!
“When DISSO plays for us, they bring so much joy to our community.”
— A fan at Senior Living Community
Contact
Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Dimensions In Sound and The Studio Orchestra, Inc. (DISSO) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Madison, Wisconsin.
MAILING ADDRESS:
P.O. Box 5083
Madison, WI 53705