Updates from the Canadian Music Therapy Fund

Canadian Music Therapy

We have four guests we are featuring on this episode Chrissy, Quentin, Hannah and Aprajita from the Canadian Music Therapy Fund. On this episode we’ll get a greater understanding of the mandates of the fund along with opportunities for scholarships, grants, and music therapy advocacy.

For more information about the fund, please visit: https://musictherapyfund.ca/

Chrissy Pearson:

Chrissy is a certified music therapist, registered psychotherapist and fellow of the Association for Music and Imagery. She has worked in various settings including long-term care, palliative care, acute care, group homes, and inpatient and community mental health. She currently works in Toronto at Baycrest Centre, is the executive director of the Canadian Music Therapy Fund and runs a small private practice offering GIM and supervision. Chrissy recently published a paper exploring the experiences of older adults who are aging at home with online music therapy sessions. Advocating for music therapy and providing presentations and consultations about the benefits of music therapy is an important part of her work.

Quentin Burgess:

Quentin Burgess is the Director of Industry and Member Relations at Music Canada, who represents Canada's major record labels. In this role, he works closely with label staff and industry partners, and oversees the organization's Gold/Platinum Certification Program, which recognizes and celebrates milestone sales of music in Canada. Quentin is the Board Chair of the Canadian Music Therapy Fund, and a member of CMTF's Advocacy Committee

Aprajita Saxena:

Aprajita is a certified music therapist and the manager for the Music Therapy Centre in Toronto, supported by the Canadian Music Therapy Fund. In her journey as a music therapist, she has had the opportunity to work with children and older adults with varying clinical goals, mental health needs, and cultural backgrounds. Her clinical work is rooted in a person-centered approach that involves the use of music to connect and support individuals with their holistic wellness goals. Additionally, her recent research initiatives have been focused on understanding the global music therapy landscape with a special focus on India. In her spare time, one can find her travelling, reading fiction or singing Indian classical music.

Hannah You:

Hannah You, a Certified Music Therapist completed her Master of Music Therapy from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2009. Her current position at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto has afforded her the opportunity to provide music therapy services in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Cardiac Critical Care Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Cardiology and works closely with the Paediatric Advanced Care Team (PACT). She has completed a specialized NICU music therapy training at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York. Hannah is a Board Member of the Canadian Music Therapy Fund since 2019 and is incoming Vice Chair. She leads the Disbursements Committee and is passionate about creating continued opportunities for grants and scholarships for music therapy across Canada.