**A Message from the President of the Board:**
Amanda Key, the founder of Hope in Song, has overcome personal adversity that once threatened to extinguish her hope. After twelve enriching years as an opera singer in Europe, a life-altering accident in 2017 changed her path. "During an opera rehearsal in Amsterdam, while I was singing the Queen of the Night from Mozart's "The Magic Flute" (Die Zauberflöte), one of the props, which happened to be a 50-pound metal sousaphone, fell on my head," she recalls, acknowledging the following challenge. This traumatic brain injury led to post-concussion syndrome, abruptly ending her career and affecting her daily life. "I couldn't drive for four years, and I had a hard time caring for my daughter," Amanda reflects.
After consulting 20 different Dutch doctors, Amanda and her family made the courageous decision to seek specialized care in America. This leap of faith turned out to be transformational, guiding them to a brain rehabilitation center in Florida. "God led me to these doctors and reignited my hope. After one week, I was driving again, so we moved back here!"
Feeling a divine calling to give back, this newfound hope inspired Amanda to start a nonprofit aimed at revitalizing the power of music. By integrating cherished spiritual songs, such as "Give Me Jesus" and "Were You There?" with operatic elements, she offers a novel and uplifting experience for her audience. She sings these timeless lyrics in a fresh way to help people connect with something everyone needs: hope. "I always tell my friends and family that the most meaningful gift I can offer them is the gift of my voice," she said. "God gave me this gift so I can be a blessing to others. Music can be very healing spiritually and emotionally, especially in times of need." Despite her challenges with light and sound sensitivities, she finds immense joy in sharing her passion for music through Hope in Song.
Read her entire story: