Every Voice a Song
An Iris Collective and Memphis Oral School for the Deaf Lullaby Project Partnership
In partnership with Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Project
Every Voice a Song uses the power of music and storytelling to create original lullabies for the families at Memphis Oral School for the Deaf (MOSD). Inspired by Carnegie Hall’s acclaimed Lullaby Project, this initiative invites parents and caregivers of children with hearing loss to co-create original lullabies—capturing love, identity, and the stories of their earliest journeys.
Together, Iris Collective and MOSD are working to create a continuous program where every family with a child with hearing loss in the Mid-south can create and record a lullaby as part of their developmental experience.
Our Story
Through this partnership, Iris Collective collaborates with Memphis Oral School for the Deaf to integrate music-making into early intervention services, using songwriting as a tool to support parent-child connection, language development, and emotional expression within the home.
Within this framework, families are guided through a structured series of workshops where parents and caregivers create personalized lullabies for their children. Using songwriting, reflection, and playful musical interactions, participants explore themes of love, identity, and hope while developing songs that both celebrate their child’s unique journey and support ongoing language development and bonding beyond the workshop experience.
Our Results
Each family developed a lullaby that reflects their unique story, creating a lasting heirloom that helps tell their family history. The effect of this work was both immediate and enduring.
Original lullabies were composed and recorded, and later arranged into a song cycle for singer and piano trio, performed at an Iris Collective concert on February 21, 2026. Each family received audio and printed versions of their songs, encouraging them to keep singing beyond the project. Families reported increased confidence in using music to support early learning, along with deeper connection through shared creative experiences.
“My daughter was diagnosed with bilateral hearing loss at 4 months old and music has been a foundational part of her growth and development…
I had always wanted to write a song for her and her little sister but never could put all of these big feelings for them into words. Iris Collective helped me do just that. The team was very supportive and creative and served as the best guides. It was amazing how quickly we were able to compose a beautiful piece from my simple melody. It is such a gift to have these songs.
The girls now make me sing the lullabies at night before bedtime twice and they sing along. My youngest sings them to her baby dolls as she plays with them. It is so sweet. The lullabies will always be special to my family.”
In Partnership with:
