In the Spring of 2014 Aurora Nealand and Lisa Giordano began the renovation of an uninhabited space in New Orleans to become a performance lab and home to a rotating series of artists in residence. Sound Observatory New Orleans presents new work from New Orleans artists and their friends worldwide and curates The Shape of Jazz To Come, a monthly series and annual festival hosted @Three Keys in The Ace Hotel.

SONO ARTIST OPPORTUNITIES are individually designed to alleviate some of the common obstacles that stand between the idea and the execution of new work. SONO supports original ideas in a comprehensive way by providing resources, encouraging collaboration and creation of art that is independent of commerce. SONO artists may be a touring band with a strong desire to work with New Orleans musicians, a traveling International ensemble seeking a deeper connection to the the New Orleans community or a New Orleans-based artist looking for time, space and support to try something new.

Aurora Nealand is a prolific New Orleans talent. Best known as band leader for her “non-trad” traditional jazz band, The Royal Roses, Nealand’s creative spirit spans far beyond the music of the 1940’s. Her solo album- turned- multi-media- ensemble- project, The Monocle, is as fringe as it is familiar and explores the edge of human emotion while drawing on Nealand’s depth in physical theater, drama and sonic exploration. The Monocle’s latest incarnation, Kind Human Kind in collaboration with theater company, Goat In The Road premiered at the Creative Arts Center New Orleans in April of 2019 to a run of sold-out performances. Nealand is a musical ambassador performing with and facilitating One Beat state-sponsored global residencies. Her alter ego, rockabilly band, Rory Danger and the Danger Dangers is a New Orleans festival favorite drawing sold–out crowds for their limited and coveted engagements. She also loves to dance.

Lisa Giordano is a passionate advocate of innovation. In a decade as Artist and Community Relations Director for the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival she created diverse public programming for a wide range of audiences. Through this work she developed JAZZLAB, annual, fully funded, work- in-progress recording and experimentation sessions designed for presentation in a contemporary art gallery. She books and curates engagements for a select group of artists worldwide ( book them! ) and works Sundays at the record store. Her list of community concerts and international festivals is vast, colorful and reflects her career-long commitment to creative music. She has worked in programming and operations for major music events in Vermont, New York, LA, San Francisco, VA Beach, Austin and New Orleans.