Presentations & Connections at WRAMTA 2026 in the Bay Area!

Last April, my fellow colleagues and I had the privilege of presenting at the Western Region American Music Therapy Association (WRAMTA) Conference, held right here in the Bay Area. This year, WRAMTA took place in Berkeley, California—right here in our backyard! Three of our music therapists (Matt, Brianna, and myself) had the opportunity of each presenting for a concurrent session.

My session, titled “Beyond Repertoire: The Interplay of Culture, Identity, and Bias,” explored how cultural humility can be applied across all levels and roles in music therapy practice and training—ranging from students/interns preparing for certification, to professionals working with diverse populations, and supervisors/educators mentoring the next generation of music therapists. I co-presented with my music therapy colleague, Erica Wan. The session had a strong turnout and facilitated thought-provoking dialogue among attendees. Our goal was to inspire ongoing reflection and conversations about how music therapists can approach their work through a culturally humble lens. By integrating cultural humility into our work, we can foster more meaningful and respectful therapeutic relationships.

I was also proud to support my two colleagues, Matt and Brianna, in their respective presentations.

Matt’s presentation, “AI: It’s Gonna Get Weirder: Tools for Ethically Navigating Rapid Technological Evolution,” built upon his work from last year’s conference and encouraged meaningful dialogue about the growing presence of artificial intelligence in the music therapy field and its broader impact on our lives. Brianna’s presentation, “Innovative Approach to Developmental Care in the NICU,” explored innovative strategies for developmental support in three San Francisco Bay Area neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Co-presenting with NICU music therapy colleagues Rebecca Hames and Leah Cruz, they shared approaches to enhance infant neurodevelopment, strengthen family engagement, and provide staff education.

In addition to the presentations, we had the opportunity to reconnect with several of our former interns. As a former intern myself who also completed this program, it was inspiring to hear about the incredible work they’ve been doing since graduating from our program.

This year’s WRAMTA conference was an amazing weekend filled with learning, meaningful conversations, and opportunities to reconnect with colleagues and peers!