Healing Harmonies hosting a ‘Hoedown For Hope’
by: Scott Brown
Posted: Apr 10, 2026 / 03:00 PM MDT
Updated: Apr 10, 2026 / 11:17 AM MDT
Healing Harmonies New Mexico is a local nonprofit that provides an inclusive choir for people living with neurological disabilities, proving that music really is an incredible unifier. They are hosting their Hoedown For Hope event to raise awareness and funds to help them continue their work.
Nicole Gallegos with Healing Harmonies says the benefits to the people in the program are numerous. “The main thing is, we know in the brain when people sing, the whole brain lights up, so it can help if you have aphasia; if you’ve lost your ability to speak, you can still go with that power of music and memory,” Gallegos says. “I think it’s also so important with depression, with community….bringing people together in an environment where everyone kind of understands what they’re going through.”
The Hoedown for Hope will be held on Saturday, April 18, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Dirty Bourbon at 9800 Montgomery Blvd NE. More information is available on Healing Harmonies New Mexico’s website.
First-ever ‘Hoedown for Hope’ to benefit choir for adults with neurological conditions
Griffin Rushton | KOB
April 16, 2026 - 9:35 AM
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A popular dance hall in Albuquerque is set to host a wild West-themed event to support a special choir in the metro.
The Dirty Bourbon in northeast Albuquerque is hosting the first-ever “Hoedown for Hope” to support the Healing Harmonies New Mexico choir.
In 2022, speech pathologist Nicole Gallegos formed the choir to bring together adults with neurological conditions for a dose of a different type of medicine.
“We know that music lights up the whole brain. It helps with language. We, many of our members, cannot speak. They’ve lost their ability to speak but the music comes on and they can sing,” Gallegos said.
There are close to 80 people in the choir now.
“It just brings joy and being able to be with everybody here with all of our different voices,” choir member Don Bonney said. “It’s just a really positive experience that carries us throughout the weeks.”
The “Hoedown for Hope” will give members and their families a place to have some Wild West fun.
“We’re having a whole kids area, Western-themed face painting,” Gallegos said. “We have a bunch of amazing raffles from all the sports teams in New Mexico that have donated. All of the proceeds coming in are going to be going back to all of the nonprofits.
“You’re going to leave feeling good, feeling uplifted that you’re making a difference here in New Mexico.”
If you go: “Hoedown for Hope”
Saturday, April 18
4-6 p.m. at The Dirty Bourbon (location details)
Tickets: $10
Kids ages 12 and under get in free
Proceeds go back to Healing Harmonies New Mexico
Western-themed costumes and outfits are highly encouraged (arguably even mandatory!)
Pay It 4ward: Woman thanked for helping people with music
Giuli Frendak | KOB
November 11, 2024 - 11:24 PM
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – If you are ever having a bad day, and one of your favorite songs come on, do you feel that bad mood just melt away?
Tonight’s Pay It 4ward helps a woman who is helping people overcome more than just a bad mood through the power of music. From Christmas classics to straight up classics, Healing Harmonies choir covers them all, with Nicole Gallegos leading the group.
“Nicole is very funny, uplifting. She spreads a lot of joy,” said John Kwait. John Kwait is a dedicated member of the choir. “I used to be in other choirs, but I find a lot of joy and satisfaction in this choir,” said Kwait.
This one is specifically for singers with some sort of brain change from a stroke, dementia, or some other neurological disorder.
“I have Parkinson’s, and there’s been study after study that shows music really can help brain function, brain stability,” Kwait said.
He says they only meet two times a month, but they’ve become two of his favorite times of the month.
“I’ve always sort of been a singer, and it’s really helped with my singing ability, and it just helps with learning new songs, learning new skills. So it just brings a lot of satisfaction to me,” said Kwait.
So it was time to Pay It 4ward.
2024 True Heroes
Meet 10 people who are feeding our neighbors, going to bat for our kids, stepping up during a crisis, keeping our cultural flames burning, and making a difference in our communities.
Dec. 04, 2024 / Updated Dec. 11, 2024
BY LYNN CLINE, UNGELBAH DÁVILA, JULIAN DOSSETT, DEBRA LEVY MARTINELLI, SARAH MOCK, AND JIM O’DONNELL /
PHOTOS BY GABRIELLA MARKS
NICOLE GALLEGOS
The choir director creates a space where adults with neurological conditions can harness the healing power of song and community to recover and thrive.
See the full youtube video here
Healing Harmonies Neurochoir takes the stage this weekend in Corrales
by: Jordan Honeycutt
Posted: Dec 12, 2023 / 10:20 PM MST
Updated: Dec 13, 2023 / 08:43 AM MST
CORRALES, N.M. (KRQE) – Healing Harmonies Neurochoir is inviting the public to a one-of-a-kind holiday concert. The non-profit is a singing group for people with acquired brain injuries or changes such as a stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, or dementia.
The choir is directed by Nicole Gallegos, a long-time singer and vocal coach which led her into speech pathology. “So much of it is about the brain and the brain’s ability to change, so music is a huge part of that. It’s also about community because it’s so isolating when you have had brain change,” said Gallegos.
According to a news release, the choir started in August 2022 with two members and has now expanded to over 30 members. They perform every other week at the Corrales Community Center.
The group will perform on Saturday from 5-6 p.m. at Casa Perea Art Space in Corrales.
Full Story: https://www.krqe.com/news/healing-harmonies-neurochoir-takes-the-stage-this-weekend-in-corrales/