Meet Our 2025–2026 Scholarship Recipients
- Angelina's Song
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
A Look Inside the Heart of Music Therapy
Each year, the Angelina's Song Music Therapy Scholarship offers us a window into the hopes, passions, and daily lives of the next generation of music therapists. This year's recipients shared their experiences with us. What inspires them, challenges them, surprises them, and keeps them grounded in the work. Their stories paint a vivid picture of what music therapy looks and feels like from the inside.
Below, we highlight a moment from each of their journeys—moments that show the who, what, and why behind their calling.
Emma Smith: Stepping Into Her First Session
Emma recalls the moment her supervisor told her it was time for her first solo session with her very own client.
"The first thing I really felt was that I wanted this child to feel affirmed and respected and understood in the space," she said. This intention, what her program calls "self as instrument", still guides her today.
As she explains, it's about slowing down, being present, and making sure the client feels understood.
A formative moment occurred when a child transitioned from exploring instruments to sharing about his life—a reminder of how music facilitates meaningful conversations and helps express emotions that might not surface in traditional talk therapy.
As they walked out, the child said, "Oh, that was so fun. I can't wait to come back to music therapy."Â For Emma, this joy captures the heart of her work.
Jacob Roco: A Day in the Life of a Music Therapy Student
When Jacob Roco filmed his "day in the life" video, he was heading out for his psychiatric practicum—Ava, his practicum partner, even popped in as they walked to their site. That day, Jacob focused on lyrical reflection and mood analysis, while Ava led a drumming activity.
Back on campus, with class canceled, he dove into session planning before switching gears to study for a macroeconomics test—part of his business minor. Later, percussion ensemble rehearsal carried him into the evening, followed by supporting friends at a choir concert.
A key part of Jacob's week is his practicum reflection process.
"Every single week, after the session, we have to submit this log on the same day, and we basically do a self-reflection and self-analysis… Then we go into supervision on Friday with our professors and we talk through what could be done better for the next session," Roco said.
MacKynsie McKedy: Sparking Connection through Music
For MacKynsie McKedy, her go-to instrument has always been the fiddle—an instrument she picked up at the age of six and one that connects her to the traditions of country, western swing, bluegrass, and jazz.
"I love implementing the fiddle into my music therapy sessions because it goes over so well with a wide range of populations from older adults all the way to kids," she said.
With older adults, the fiddle becomes a doorway to memories. Songs like "Amarillo" by Morning or "Faded Love" by Bob Wilson and the Texas Playboys spark instant recognition.
"It's such a cool experience for them to be able to hear that sound that they recognize and go through a musical reminiscing experience,"Â McKedy said.
Children light up when she plays Disney tunes; adults glow when nostalgia hits; and MacKynsie loves seeing new genres come alive through an instrument she's deeply passionate about.
NaTasha Roger: Lessons in Accessibility, Empathy, and Trust
NaTasha Roger's most unexpected lesson came from Camp Abilities in Texas, a sports and educational camp for children and teens who are blind, visually impaired, or deafblind.
During training, new staff were given goggles that replicated her own real-life vision. When she put on blackout goggles, her body tensed; she froze, afraid to move. Her sight guide held her hand, described what was happening, and helped her navigate the moment. Even in fear, she noticed a sense of calm as other senses took over.
When they switched roles, NaTasha learned firsthand the importance of being descriptive, accurate, and thoughtful—because when working with visually impaired clients, it's about safety.
"One of the biggest lessons I am learning is how to care for others, how to care for myself first… but then how to share that compassion and that empathy and that understanding for someone else," Roger said. "Accessibility is therapy, and when music is added, it becomes harmony."
Nicole Stroh: The Challenge of Balance
For Nicole Stroh, one of the biggest challenges has been navigating her relationship with classical music—her first love and her passion. As a classical pianist who admires the theory, history, and psychology behind the music, she sometimes feels a disconnect while balancing full-time graduate school with part-time work.
"I am learning how to be a therapist with verbal processing skills, I am learning how to clinically apply music in settings rather than just learn its content," she said.
To stay centered, Nicole practices intentional time management: one day a week, she prioritizes listening to classical music or reading classical literature. She also makes space for rest—walks, downtime, and moments to breathe.
There's emotional weight in music therapy training. "We're here because we care about people," Stroh said. And caring for herself helps her continue caring for others.
Sarah Decker: Music Therapy is More Than a Performance
Sarah Decker describes the distinction between performance and therapy through imagery: a concert is like a large lake—wide-reaching but shallow. Music therapy, she says, is more like a tiny pond with one person at the center. There, the music can travel "deep, deep, deep, deep, deep down."
"Music as therapy can get to our emotions, our thoughts, our physical motor skills… our spirit," Decker said. It's tailored to the individual, built on relationship, trust, and safety.
She explains how music therapy gives sound to emotion, helps teach academic concepts, and can even unlock memories for someone capturing their legacy at the end of life.
"There is such a sweet relationship of trust and safety between a music therapist and a client,"Â she added.
Sarah Richardson-Weikel: Finding Purpose in Music
Sarah Richardson-Weikel's "why"Â is rooted in her personal connection to music.
"I grew up in music and music has helped me in so many ways, and I feel it is my purpose to tell people that music can help them as well,"Â she said.
She sees music therapy's purpose in schools, hospitals, behavioral health settings, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and more.
"Music can be the perfect catalyst for obtaining some of these things that are beyond our reach. That music can be more than just entertainment or a social thing,"Â Richardson-Weikel said.
Tyler Dean: A Client's Breakthrough
For Tyler Dean, the most inspiring moment came from working with "John"Â (a pseudonym), a client experiencing bereavement alongside an intellectual disability.
Over the course of five weeks, Tyler watched John transform—from touching a ukulele for the first time to singing gospel music with a whole heart. From the very first session, the impact was clear.
John walked in carrying stress and turmoil, but that day he "wound up singing his heart out,"Â explored the ukulele, and began to open up musically and emotionally.
The moment that stays with Tyler is what John said after that first session:Â "I love music therapy because it helps me deal with the hard world out there."
For Tyler, that sentence was a powerful reminder of why this work matters—and why he belongs in it.
Honoring Their Voices
Our scholars remind us that music therapy is personal, connective, challenging, joyful, reflective, and deeply human. Their experiences—whether in a practicum room, a classroom, a camp, or a moment of breakthrough with a single client—show how music becomes a pathway to healing and growth.
We're honored to support them through the Angelina's Song Scholarship and to watch them step into the world as compassionate storytellers, clinicians, and leaders of tomorrow.