"Reflection on My Woods Journey"- Allee Taylor: MT Senior Reflection

 

Allee Taylor, Ring Day 2020

     It’s hard to believe that my four years at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is coming to an end. I have wanted to come to SMWC since I was old enough to know about college. I am a legacy student, and I grew up coming to the Woods on a regular basis. I remember being a kid and wanting nothing more than to perform on the Cecilian Auditorium stage. My aunt and my cousin were both very involved in the Music and Theatre department. I wanted nothing more than to follow in their footsteps.
    I remember the day Saint Mother Theodore Guerin was Canonized. I was young and didn’t fully understand, but I saw what it meant to the women around me. I saw how much wearing the Onyx ring meant to them. I saw the pride they had in being a Woodsie. I grew up supported by strong Woods women and they helped me become a strong Woods woman myself.

Allee with family - Woods women!

     One of my greatest experiences in college was being a part of the SMWC Madrigals. Both my aunt and cousin were Madrigals during their time at the Woods. Because of that, I knew being a Madrigal was something special. It is hard to put into words what being a Madrigal means to me. I am truly honored to have been a part of this group.

SMWC Madrigals performing in Conservatory

    

    I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Ireland with the Madrigals… TWICE! The first trip to Ireland was following my Freshman year. I got to tour a country that I love, with people that I love, singing beautiful music in amazing spaces. It was life changing. That trip is where I developed strong bonds with my peers, developing friendships that would last a lifetime.  

Choir in Ireland 2018

      The second trip to Ireland was different. For this trip, the Madrigals had been invited to participate in the 2019 Mayo County International Choral Festival. Our group of nine young women and our choir director, Michael Boswell, competed at an international level against choirs much bigger and more experienced than our own. Who would have thought that those same nine women would take home an international championship? This is one of my proudest accomplishments. But, what really made that trip for me wasn’t the trophies and the title; but it was the bonds that were formed between the members of the group. The connection I felt to the other Madrigals during that trip was extremely special. I will never forget the amazing memories we made together.

SMWC Madrigals after winning the 2019 Mayo County 
International Choral Festival Competition

     One of the best things about the Woods are the traditions. Traditions like Big/Little, the acorn ceremony, Ring Day, and so many more. These traditions make the Woods so unique and special. Big/Little is such an amazing tradition. My “bigs,” Sara Langenberger and Liz Yeazel, were extremely supportive throughout my journey at the Woods. They helped me through so many things and have always been there to support me. I love that this tradition helps the students build these bonds with one another. It really impacts the college experience.

Allee with Sara and Liz

     Another special tradition is Ring Day. I have been fantasizing about my Ring Day since I was a little girl. I watched my family wear their rings with such pride and honor. I could hardly wait to get one of my own. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, our Ring Day got postponed and it was a very emotional time. The dreams of having Ring Day in the Church of the Immaculate Conception were not realized (understandably so). Even though we were unable to have a traditional Ring Day in the spring of our junior year, we were still able to have a beautiful, memorable ceremony in the Sunken Gardens in front of Le Fer Hall in the fall of our senior year.

Ring Day 2020

     I think that people can often take living in Le Fer for granted. Le Fer is like a huge castle with so much history and energy in the walls. It is amazing. I had the honor to be a Resident Assistant in my final year of college. I am so glad to have been able to connect with, and support, the residents of 4N and all the residents in Le Fer. 

     Something that has also been important to me in my time at the Woods is the theatre program.  I have been involved in every production since my first year at SMWC. I have worked as the Student Assistant for the Technical Director and Production Manager the past two years and also worked as Assistant to the Director of theater productions (who was my cousin Danielle O'Connor) my first two years. I have devoted a lot of time, energy, and love into theatre at the Woods. One of my favorite memories was getting the opportunity to play the lead role of Violet in the fall of 2019. I will never forget the amazing experiences I had on that stage.

Allee as "Violet" in SMWC theater production 

     I have also dedicated a lot of time to student organizations including being president of the Music Therapy Student Association (MTSA), president of the Drama Club, a member of the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), and being a Senior and Junior class officer. It has been an amazing experience to be president of MTSA, with an opportunity to advocate and share my love of music therapy with the members of the student association.

Music Therapy Student Association 2019-20

     I am so happy that I chose the path of music therapy. Being a music therapy major can be difficult at times, but the work is very rewarding. Music therapy pushes you to become the best version of yourself. Over my time in the Music and Theatre Department, I have gained so much self-awareness and so many skills that I never imagined possible. The Music and Theatre Department Chair and Coordinator of Undergraduate Music Therapy, Sharon R. Boyle, has continued to support me on my journey and has helped me build so much confidence in my abilities. I am so thankful for the growth I’ve experienced over these four years. I am also so excited to be continuing my music therapy journey in my 6-month music therapy internship at Opportunities for Positive Growth in Fishers, IN. There I will be serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

SMWC Music Therapy representing at the
GLR-AMTA Conference in March 2020 

     These final weeks of the school year have been very reflective. For my senior project I chose to do a self-reflective project, spending a lot of time thinking back to who I was at different points throughout my collegiate journey. I decided to write a show that consists of four monologues and three songs to share my experience, but also provide support to current and future students. At this link, you will find a recording of my monologues and songs written and performed for my senior project.
      Thank you to everyone who has supported me on my journey. Thank you to my professors and peers for helping me become the person I am today

Allee and her Aunt Veronica Kindley, alum,
 in Cecilian Auditorium

Allee with her fellow MT seniors in front of Le Fer Hall

Author: Allee Taylor, SMWC senior music therapy major

Editor: Sharon R. Boyle, MM, MT-BC, Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Coordinator of the Undergraduate Music Therapy Program, Chair of the Department of Music and Theatre

Photo Credits: Sharon R. Boyle, Allee Taylor

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For more information about the SMWC Undergraduate Music Therapy and Music Therapy Equivalency-Campus programs, contact:
Sharon R. Boyle, MM, MT-BC 
sboyle@smwc.edu 

. 

Home: A Senior Reflection By Abbigail Roberts

 

Abbie Roberts

     Reflecting on my time here at Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods College has been an incredible experience. It has also been a really difficult experience trying to sum up these past four years. This last semester of college has been a very reflective time for me, due to the nature of my senior project and just thinking about how time has gone by so fast. It seems like yesterday that I was a 17-year-old coming into college, not knowing what my purpose was, or what I wanted to do with my life. I still don’t have the answer to what I want to do with my life, but I now have direction. Deciding on whether or not music therapy was the right path for me was a struggle up until last semester. I went back and forth for three and half years on whether I wanted to continue to pursue music therapy. I think, in reality, music therapy pursued me as there was something about it that I just didn’t want to leave behind. This turned out to be the whole reason why I was interested in music therapy in the first place. I loved music and I wanted to help people. That is the desire that began this long journey. It was this desire that kept me going through all of the struggles and failures, the back and forth, and what led me to where I am today.

SMWC Onyx ring on flower arrangement

          I’ve never been great at making decisions and this was one of the hardest decisions I have had to make. Reflecting on it now, choosing music therapy has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have grown so much as a person and gained many skills. The heavy workload and “scary” proficiencies, although difficult, were worth it. I have also had so many amazing practicum experiences and I am so thankful to be able to work with a diverse range of clients and work together with my amazing peers. All of this is created in a way to set students up for success and to ensure that we feel as prepared as possible when we leave SMWC for internship and beyond. That is the beautiful part of this community, especially the Music and Theatre Department. Our professors want to see us succeed and push each one of us to grow and be better. That is part of the reason why I chose to come to The Woods. I saw that the professors cared for each student and would set us up for success. I am so thankful for the connections that I have made with my professors and the guidance and care that I have received. The amazing professors are part of what makes SMWC home to me.

SMWC Madrigals announced as  2019 winner
 International Mayo County Choral Festival 

SMWC Madrigals in Ireland 2019

          

     Another part of my college experience that I appreciate so much is the amazing community of SMWC. I have made wonderful connections with not only the faculty and staff, but I have also made some very close friends. I really struggled to make friends during my freshman year as I was very introverted and avoided people as much as possible. However, on our first choir trip to Ireland, I made many close friends. Touring and singing in all of the beautiful cathedrals of Ireland was an amazing experience in itself. Being able to enjoy these experiences with a wonderful group of people made it all the better. It was an even greater experience when the Madrigals were invited back to Ireland the next year to compete in the 2019 Mayo International Choral Festival. Being a part of the Madrigals and having the magical Madrigal moments has made my time at SMWC even more special. I will forever be a part of this legacy of women who have sung before me and those who will sing after me. What an incredible legacy to share in. None of us were expecting to win this international competition, but our nine women from a small town in Indiana made history for SMWC when we won an international choir competition. I have to say this will go down as one of the greatest moments of my life! Not only did we win an amazing competition and were able to visit Ireland for a second time, I also grew closer with the people in the group and I am forever grateful for this experience and for each and every person I have sung with. I could go on forever about all of the beautiful musical moments I have experienced, but I will say this, the community of the Music and Theatre Department and these incredible moments that I have been a part of are why SMWC is home to me.  

MT practicum students 2019

      Studying music therapy and being involved in the choirs, theatre, MTSA (Music Therapy Student Association), and more has all brought me unexpected joy. As I’ve said many times before, I never wanted to go to college. My plan was to drop out after one semester because I was so sure that college was not for me. We can see how well that worked out as I am now writing my senior reflection and thinking about all of the things that have made my time here at SMWC an incredible experience! Coming into college, I never thought that I would ever call this place my home. 

    Writing this reflection, I tear up thinking about  this place and the people that now make this place my home. It took me a while to sit down and write this reflection, because as a senior there is so much to do. However, taking this time has given me the ability to reflect on these past four years and process all of the emotions that comes with leaving behind home and taking the next step into a new and exciting time of life. As I said before, it is hard to sum up my time here at SMWC and I don’t think this experience can be put into words. All I know is that I am grateful for all the experiences and opportunities that I received, the care and support that I received from my professors, and the incredible friends that I know who will be a part of my life forever. I think it is important to be open to new experiences and be willing to dive into the unknown. If I hadn’t taken the first step and taken risks, I wouldn’t be the person I am now. 

MTSA members at event 2019/20

     Last but not least, I am thankful to God and His Providence that led me here to Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods College and I am excited to see where He will lead me next.

Kaci Jones and Abbie Roberts Ring Day 2019

Author: Abbigail Roberts, SMWC senior music therapy major

Editor: Sharon R. Boyle, MM, MT-BC, Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Coordinator of the Undergraduate Music Therapy Program, Chair of the Department of Music and Theatre

Photo Credits: Sharon R. Boyle, Abbigail Roberts

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For more information about the SMWC Undergraduate Music Therapy and Music Therapy Equivalency-Campus programs, contact:
Sharon R. Boyle, MM, MT-BC 
sboyle@smwc.edu 

Top 5 Reasons You Should Consider Studying Music Therapy at SMWC

Have you considered studying music therapy? If you have, we might be the perfect place for you! Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC), aka "The Woods", proudly offers undergraduate, graduate, and equivalency (both campus and distance) programs. With our long-standing history, tradition of innovation and excellence, distinguished faculty, and beautiful campus, you will have an unforgettable experience that reaches far beyond the classroom!

Banner welcoming students to Le Fer Hall

Below, you will find the top five reasons why YOU should consider studying music therapy at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. 

5. The History

Throughout our long history (since 1840), the music therapy program has continued to expand its educational opportunities. In 1983, SMWC proudly established the campus-based Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy (BSMT). In 2000, SMWC started our Master of Arts in Music Therapy (MAMT) program, allowing music therapists to study in a graduate program that is a hybrid: both online format and campus residencies at the start of each semester to allow for cohort connection and intensive hands-on learning in clinical improvisation, Guided Imagery in Music (BMGIM), and more. In 2012, SMWC established our Music Therapy Equivalency Distance Program (MTED), the first distance program of its kind to offer individuals with bachelor's degrees in music an opportunity to return to school and become a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC)! The program has a similar structure to the MAMT program, with campus residencies at the start of each semester, but allowing students to complete their pre-clinical practicum experiences near their home. Many students love SMWC so much that they choose to obtain their BS in Music Therapy (or MTED certificate) and then complete their MA in Music Therapy here as well.

From left: the Avenue, the Church of Immaculate
Conception, and the Conservatory of Music 

4. The Campus

As soon as you reach the entrance of Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods College, you'll experience the picturesque scenery that The Woods has to offer. Driving down the Avenue, you just might experience your "Avenue Moment".

3. The Faculty

SMWC has distinguished faculty in all music therapy programs. In addition, full-time and adjunct faculty are experts in the field in a range of areas.

SMWC music therapy students participating
in an interactive rhythmic experience.

2. The Culture

All music therapy programs provide developmentally progressive courses and clinical opportunities. Clinical musicianship and an emphasis on improvisation are core components of all programs. As a Woods music therapy student, we exemplify the core values of the College: Social justice, spirituality, sustainability, and gender equality. Leadership, service, a sense of community, and advocating for social justice are at the heart of our programs.

SMWC music therapy students improvising.

1. The Experience

At The Woods, students have the opportunity to begin their practicum experiences in their first year. Additionally, students receive weekly
supervision with their faculty supervisor and onsite practicum supervisor(s) in addition to their group supervision class. Some clinical opportunities include sites such as elementary schools, behavioral health units, a juvenile detention center, long term care facilities, and adult day facilities. Telehealth practicum placements have further expanded educational opportunities. Students have the opportunity to work with experienced professionals, gaining invaluable clinical experience in a variety of settings. All students in the music therapy program  experience peer mentorships, allowing them to develop collegial relationships and learn from peers to create a strong sense of community. Finally, the individualized growth and development of each student into a strong music therapy professional lead to many alumni becoming business owners, clinicians in large hospitals, researchers, and leaders throughout the music therapy profession.

Sound like your kind of college program? Then be sure to contact us for more information (see below) and check out our website.

Cecilian Auditorium

Blog Post Author: Autumn Wilson, Music Therapy Student Assistant and music therapy major

Editor: Sharon R. Boyle, MM, MT-BC, Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Coordinator of the Undergraduate Music Therapy Program, Chair of the Department of Music and Theatre

Photo Credits: Sharon R. Boyle, MM, MT-BC, Sue Weatherwax, Associate Director of Creative Services, & Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods College

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For more information about the SMWC Undergraduate Music Therapy and Music Therapy Equivalency-Campus programs, contact:
Sharon R. Boyle, MM, MT-BC 
sboyle@smwc.edu 

For information about the SMWC Master of Arts in Music Therapy program, contact: Dr. Tracy Richardson, MT-BC
trichardson@smwc.edu

For more information about the SMWC Music Therapy Equivalency-Distance (MTED)Online program, contact:  Larisa McHugh, MA, MT-BC
lmchugh@smwc.edu

Quarantine Reflections: A SMWC Music Therapy Senior Reflection by Jake Wilson

Jake Wilson playing percussion in Concert Ba

As I write this, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College has moved online for 7 weeks now and I have seen little else other than the inside walls of my house. The people on social media keep telling people to send love to 2020 graduates because we have just lost the last bit of time with our friends we had before we graduated. We, the graduates of 2020, still are in school so we cannot even focus or think about the abrupt wrenching of that time, or experiences, from our hands. We continue our papers, our readings, and our projects. In some cases, we still meet with our classes online. Yes, the school year has been a challenge by removing many things that motivate us, but we still march on. All of this is to say I have had a month and a half to think about my last four years in the SMWC Music Therapy Program and how it has changed my life.

SMWC Music Therapy Students 2016

It is midmorning on the date I said I would complete this blog post and it astounds me that even after all the positive growth and change I have experienced, procrastination still emerges. I feel stuck and I have no idea what to say. Often times when I don’t know what to say, as a joke, to relieve some of the anxiousness I feel, I say things that other people have said to me in the past like “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, or “Trust the Process”, or “get a haircut you hippie”. I will try to move forward with a metaphor to describe how I arrived at SMWC.

When one door closes, another door opens. I think this is an apt way of describing the way I fell upon the Woods. In my last two years in high school, the music and theatre department grew exponentially. I was there to experience all the growing pains and hardships of building a program from the ground up. As such, I grew attached and proud of my department and when it was finally time to graduate, I was beyond sad. Somewhere in my final semester of high school, when I had resigned myself to going to a state school, a family friend came to me and told me about Music Therapy at SMWC. One door was closing as another door opened for me.

Now, I should note that I do not have a heartfelt story of knowing I was going to go to the Woods since I was 10 or coming to a concert and having an eye-opening experience. No, I never had an Avenue moment. In fact, I did not even know I could attend SMWC until this friend told me and I was instantly interested. I had no clue what music therapy was, but it sounded like it combined my two favorite things: music and psychology. I went about applying to the College and getting my audition materials together. I remember using my solo and ensemble mallet piece for my audition and felt it was awful. I felt I was not a good mallet player. But I was accepted into the program and so stepped through another door.

It just so happens that my freshman year was a year of firsts for the SMWC Music and Theatre Department as well. The SMWC Concert Band was starting back up again, along with a new pep band - I was again part of a growing program. Who better to be a pioneer for a new band than someone who came from a similar band experience? The Concert Band has undergone many changes since I started here at the Woods. Among many things, being part of it has taught me about how to be a peer teacher in subtle ways as new people would come into the percussion section. I have furthered my knowledge of concert band literature and programming. I have worked with a variety of people. Being a part of our Concert Band has taught me even more what it means to work in an ensemble. Being a part of a band is something I hope I can always do throughout my life. Even if I do not always love all the music we play, I love the people and the process that is involved. 

SMWC Pep Band 2016

During my freshman year, I also took the two required semesters of voice lessons (where I found out I was a “musical ninja”. My teacher’s words, not mine) and this led me to join the newly formed Woods Vocal Ensemble (WVE), the first all-male vocal ensemble at SMWC. The WVE and choir experience as a whole has made a huge difference in my life over the past four years. I was never in choir in high school, so I did not know what I was missing out on, but singing in the WVE and with the Chorale has been a peak experience for me in my time at the Woods. It wasn’t always easy, but it was always worth it. Every concert was a joy and there is no better place to sing than the Church of Immaculate Conception. While the final Spring Concert of the year will not be happening, I will always remember the concerts that did happen. I have become a better musician for branching out and being a part of this special ensemble. 

Woods Vocal Ensemble

 I cannot forget the part of the Music and Theatre Department that is directly responsible for my upcoming marriage. The theatre area and the people that reside in it will forever hold a special place in my heart. I met my wonderful fiancée during a production of the Odd Couple a few years ago, and I was part of bringing some incredible works to life on stage. I was able to meet some great people from the community, learn a new skill in running the soundboard, and had my first professional drumming gig with the theatre area. I learned a lot about acting and live action theatre from being on this stage and the classes I took. I think it is in theater where I learned to understand metaphors; and, how to understand the small details that make up a good story.

Finally, I have to discuss my experience in the SMWC Music Therapy Program. Where do I start? The beginning is slow and the end is not quite here. In all honesty, I wrestled back and forth for three years deciding whether music therapy was right for me, but I feel much more confident these days. One thing is for sure: I am a better person for having gone through this program. Even if I decided at some point that music therapy is not for me as a career, I still take solace in the fact that I know more about myself, and the world around me, because of my experiences as a music therapy student.

The music therapy clinical practicum experiences over the years, the countless presentations, and the sheer number of hours I have dedicated to learning new music is daunting, but it made me a better person. The friends I have made through this program have been there through all of my hardships and I through their challenges. The music faculty have pushed me and supported me more than any other group of people I have ever known. The relationships I have built with all of them will last. I know that I have support no matter the issue. I have felt it throughout the years and it continues today.

Music Therapy Practicum April 2017

The class that really cemented my belief that music therapy was for me was Clinical Improvisation. It was like a switch was flipped on in my head and I just “got” it. This was music therapy! Through that improvisation class, and the reflecting upon the improvisations we did, I learned a lot about myself musically, but I also learned a lot about the processing of emotions, how that can look in music, and how to process verbally. I also had a blast connecting with my classmates throughout the semester in new ways. I came away from each class session feeling more connected with my friends. We had inside jokes that we could play out through the music, we were supportive of each other; and, it was just great. It made me realize the power of improvisation and music within our profession. If I can feel this connectedness with my friends, I can feel it with clients and they can feel it too, and then we are really making progress. The class just opened my eyes to a new part of music therapy I had not quite seen before.

SMWC Music Therapy Practicum Dec 2019

Maybe it is the quarantine, but I cannot help but feel the special feeling of the Woods as I think and reflect on my time there. Playing in the pep band to the one person that came to the game, singing “In the Bleak Midwinter” (which is my favorite Christmas song now), setting up a jam session with everybody just to play “What’s Up” for the hundredth time (a proficiency exam required song). These memories and more will stick with me as I go forward into my music therapy internship. These memories will keep me going while I make new ones to add to mosaic of my life. The Cecilian Auditorium and the Conservatory building will forever be a home to me and I cannot wait until I can return and remember all the people and experiences that helped me to become the person I am today.

Ring Day 2019

Senior Reflection Blog Post Author: Jake Wilson, a senior music therapy major, who is in process of applying for an music therapy internship to start in the coming academic year.

Blog Post Editor: Sharon R. Boyle, Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Coordinator of SMWC Undergraduate Music Therapy Program. 

Celebrating 35 Years of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Music Therapy: Part Two

On Saturday, January 19, 2019, we hosted a reception in celebration of our 35-year history as a music therapy educational program. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate and many of those planning to attend were unable to travel to SMWC due to the snow and ice, including one of our alum award recipients. Despite the weather, the reception commenced at 7:30 p.m. with refreshments (cake!) provided by Sodexo in the foyer of the Conservatory of Music. After an introduction by Dr. Janet Clark, Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, as well as a welcome by SMWC Director of Music Therapy and Chair of the Music and Theatre Department, Dr. Tracy Richardson, the reception began. Sharon Boyle, Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Coordinator of the Undergraduate Music Therapy, spoke alongside Richardson to recognize five outstanding SMWC alumni, one from each music therapy program, as well as a surprise award recipient revealed during the reception.

SMWC Music Therapy Faculty - Reception January 2019

 The SMWC Music Therapy programs are honored to recognize these five recipients for their dedication and commitment to the music therapy profession as it has grown and changed following their time at SMWC. These alumni make us proud as they continue our tradition of excellence, service, and scholarship in the professional world.

Amanda Steiner, MS, MT-BC Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy Alum Award: Amanda (Cook) Steiner, MS, MT-BC, 2006 graduate. Upon obtaining her MT-BC, Steiner began to work in Fishers, IN, with adults and children with developmental disabilities and Autism at Opportunities for Positive Growth (OPG) for 10 years. During her time there, she started a national roster internship site and supervised many music therapy interns while she was there, including some from SMWC. In 2013, Steiner obtained her master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis in Autism from Ball State University. She continues to guest-lecture and has taught as adjunct faculty for both the SMWC MTE-D and undergraduate programs since 2016. Currently, Steiner is working at Rhythm Garden Music (RGM), owned by SMWC alum Morgan (May) Sparks, providing music therapy to individuals in the Wabash Valley. She also continues to supervise practicum students during the academic year as well as during intensive summer practicums. In addition, Steiner's proposal for a national roster internship site at RGM was recently approved by the American Music Therapy Association. This will be the first national roster music therapy internship site in Terre Haute, IN. Presently, Steiner resides in Terre Haute, IN, with her husband, Ryan, and daughter, Kala. Jay Thompson, CMT Music Therapy Equivalency - Campus (MTE-C) Alum Award: Jay Thompson, CMT, who was the first male to complete the music therapy equivalency at SMWC in 1996. At the age of 43, Thompson decided to enroll at The Woods in 1994 after encouragement from a close friend to explore music therapy. Thompson had previously been working as a successful sales manager for a large corporation but was seeking more meaning in his career path. After completing the program, he began working with boys on the Autism spectrum, and later started to work full-time at the well-known mental health center, Saint Vincent Stress Center in Indianapolis. There, he offered music therapy to a variety of populations, including individuals with substance abuse disorders and addictions. Thompson's passion for music and music therapy have helped others develop the skills they need to navigate their lives. His mission is to be a conduit for the healing power of music, always letting the music do the work. Thompson continues to support the SMWC Music Therapy programs through his generous spirit and engagement with many events.

Karen Sholander, MT-BC

Music Therapy Equivalency - Distance (MTE-D) Alum Award: Karen Sholander, MT-BC, completed the MTE-D program in 2014 as a member of the very first MTE-D cohort. With her passion for helping others to find joy and connection, she discovered that music therapy was the perfect second career. Leading up to her career as a music therapist, Sholander had worked as an elementary school music teacher, piano teacher, studio owner, performing pianist, accompanist, and she is a working mother. After completing a music education degree (BME) from Baylor University and her equivalency from SMWC, she completed the certification at Hospice and Palliative Care Music Therapy through the Center for Music Therapy in End of Life Care. Now, she is working with hospice patients and their families through the full-time salaried music therapist position she created in early 2015 through the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (VNA). Additionally, she guides music therapy interns in the profession, is an active member of both the national and regional associations for music therapy (AMTA, SWAMTA), and she enjoys helping music therapists in her area network with one another. Sholander also presents about music therapy with various community and educational organizations and is dedicated to helping others achieve positive change and connections through music. Sholander attended the SMWC reception and received her award via Skype video!

Master of Arts in Music Therapy (MAMT) Alum Awards: The final two recipients were Annette Whitehead-Pleaux, MA, MT-BC, and Larisa McHugh, MA, MT-BC, who both completed the graduate program in 2003. 

Annette Whitehead-Pleaux, MA, MT-BC

Annette Whitehead-Pleaux, MA, MT-BC has focused on clinical practice, education, research, and service for many years. She worked for 15 years with pediatric burn survivors at a major pediatric hospital in Boston. Now, she is the Senior Clinical Supervisor at Roman Music Therapy Services, managing a staff of 12 music therapists and providing clinical supervision. Whitehead-Pleaux serves as adjunct faculty at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, Berklee College of Music, Colorado State University, and Lesley University. Additionally, she works as an active researcher, focusing on pain, anxiety, electronic music technology, and cultural responsiveness in music therapy. She has ten publications, has written 12 chapters, and was awarded the Arthur Flaggler Fultz Research Grant Award for a research study that built upon her thesis, as well as being co-editor of the book Cultural Intersections in Music Therapy: Music, Health, and the Person. Finally, Whitehead-Pleaux has been an advocate for music therapy through service to the profession throughout her entire career, holding several positions regionally and nationally in the American Music Therapy Association, including Speaker of the Assembly of Delegates, Scope of Practice Work Group, Advisory Team for the Research Priority, Chair of the Education and Training Advisory Board. In addition, she is a founding member of Team Rainbow.

Larisa McHugh, MA, MT-BC

Larisa McHugh, MA, MT-BC, received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Dayton and became board certified in 1997. Having received her Master of Arts from the MAMT program at SMWC in 2003, she is currently completing a PhD program in Psychology, with a specialization in Consciousness, Spirituality, and Integrative Health from Saybrook University in California. Larisa is an advanced trainee in the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music through Appalachian State University. In addition, she has been the Program Coordinator for the MTE-D program (in addition to teaching) since its inception in 2012. Also, McHugh has presented at the state, regional, and international level. Internationally, she has presented at the World Congress of Music Therapy in Austria and South Korea. Her areas of focus have included music therapy internship and supervision, music therapy for persons with Alzheimer’s Disease, interdisciplinary collaboration, and more. She has years of clinical experience working with older adults and co-authored a pilot study on the effect of pre-meal vocal re-creative MT on nutritional intake of residents with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias that was published in MTP in 2012. McHugh has demonstrated extensive service to the music therapy profession. She received the 2016 GLR Service Award and also the Florence Tyson Grant to study Music Psychotherapy in 2012. She has served on the American Music Therapy Association Assembly of Delegates, in President/Past-President/President-Elect positions for the Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association, as well as numerous state, regional, and national committees. She is also a yoga instructor and has two adorable dogs who keep her company as she spends endless hours at her computer.

At the conclusion of the reception and awards ceremony, Sharon Boyle, Program Coordinator of the Undergraduate Music Therapy Program, introduced a special documentary on SMWC Music Therapy that was the culmination of a senior project for undergraduate music therapy student, Allison Payonk (who is presently in her internship in Ohio).

Allison Payonk

Payonk wrote about this special project:

Last year, while considering what to do for my senior project, I knew that I wanted to combine my interest in creating and designing things with my passion for sharing what makes The Woods so special. I think it's hard to understand or explain what we experience as students, faculty, and alums from this school and music therapy program, and I wanted to see if I could encapsulate it somehow, so other people might see why this place is so incredibly special to so many of us. When Sharon recommended this project, to update and reimagine the video created 5 years ago documenting the history of music therapy at The Woods, I was all in, mostly I think because I didn't yet realize the responsibility and enormity of the project I had signed up for.

Creating this video was certainly daunting at first. How can one do justice to all the incredible people who put in so much work to create this program we've all become a part of, and the growth that is experienced by everyone who was been a part of it? As I went to create it though, I found a common theme emerged naturally: connection. 35 years ago this program was started by people I've never met and don't know, but through the legacy of The Woods and this program, and everyone who's worked to keep it alive, I, as well as all of you, are connected to them, to each other, and the work we are privileged to do in music therapy. While I created this video I felt more than ever connected to this program and all of you who make it up, and in a way, even though I created it for the SMWC music therapy program, it became a part of my journey too. My hope for this video though, is not just that I've told my experience and story in it, but that you hear your story in it too, and are reminded of the 35 amazing years that this program has had and will continue to for many more. I want to thank greatly all of the people who helped me put this together, and of course all of you, who make up the story this video tells.

The video was shown to all in attendance and the viewing involved laughter, smiles, and tears. The special nature of this place, and these incredible music therapy programs, are difficult to articulate, but the alumni, students, staff, and faculty truly emulate its beauty of connection every day.

To view the documentary video, click this link and feel free to share!


Blog Post Co-Authors: Autumn Wilson, Music Therapy Student Assistant and music therapy major; Sharon R. Boyle, MM, MT-BC, Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Coordinator of the Undergraduate Music Therapy Program.

Blog Post Editor: Sharon R. Boyle, MM, MT-BC, Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Coordinator of the Undergraduate Music Therapy Program.

Photo Credits: Sharon R. Boyle, Larisa McHugh, Amanda Steiner, Jay Thompson, and Karen Sholander.

To learn more about the Music and Music Therapy programs at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, check out our website here.

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