The Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association will hold its annual conference this year at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. Dr. Joni Milgram-Luterman and Kimberly Mancino of the School of Music's Music Therapy program, will co-host the conference entitled, "Spread Your Wings with Music Therapy," on April 10 to 12.
The two co-hosts will also be presenting a pre-conference institute on April 9, "Community Music Therapy," which will also feature Sarah Kelso, a SUNY Fredonia Music Therapy graduate student, and Canadian music therapist Mendelt Hoekstra.
Hoekstra will present his work as director of the Niagara Region’s Momentum Choir. The Momentum Choir consists of 50 plus singers who have developmental disabilities and will perform at the opening session of the conference on Thursday, April 10 at 12:45 p.m. The group has inspired audiences for six years packing concert halls, the Parliament Hill in Ottawa, and the "Canada’s Got Talent" show.
There will be a Fredonia alumni/student reception on Friday evening sponsored by the College of Visual and Performing Arts and the School of Music.
The conference will also offer information sessions for high school students interested in pursuing a career in music therapy, and school and hospital administrators to educate them on the benefits of music therapy programs in their facilities.
