February 28, 2026
9:00 am
The Spire, 82 Sydenham St, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3H4, Kingston
The MTAO is excited to host our 2026 Annual Conference at The Spire in Kingston, Ontario, on Saturday, February 28th, 2026! We can’t wait to be inspired by our community in Ontario. We hope to see you all there!
GALA INFORMATION AT BOTTOM OF PAGE.
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Performance Hall |
Upper Hall |
Lower Hall |
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| 8:00-9:00 |
Registration |
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| 9:00-9:15 |
Opening Remarks |
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| 9:15-10:30 |
Radical Re-envisioning of Music Therapy in Aging Care: A Call to Action – Dr. Laurel Young |
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| 10:30-10:40 |
Transition |
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| 10:40-11:40 |
Should I stay or should I go? Music-based cognitive interventions for adults with suicidal ideation – Melissa Tan & Steffi Friyia |
Where are we now: The clinical perceptions of Ontario music therapy and Music Psychotherapy – Ashley Kurkjian |
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| 11:40-11:45 |
Transition |
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| 11:45-11:55 |
Vocal Toning Experiential – Adrienne Pringle |
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| 11:55-12:00 |
Transition |
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| 12:00-1:00 |
AGM & Lunch |
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| 1:00-1:05 |
Transition |
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| 1:05-2:05 |
Use of music as a coping mechanism for emotion regulation in music therapists – Candela Castro |
Fostering Hope and Solidarity Through Community Music Therapy – Ruth Watkiss |
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| 2:05-2:10 |
Transition |
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| 2:10-3:10 |
Music Therapy for Proactive Wellness – Dr. Rachael Finnerty |
Supervisor’s Roundtable – Noreen Donnell |
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| 3:10-3:20 |
Transition |
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| 3:20-4:35 |
A Collective Breath: Sustaining the Heart of Music Therapy – Kimberly Dolan |
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| 4:35-4:50 |
Closing Remarks |
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This presentation is situated within a critical aging studies framework and will employ music experientials, knowledge sharing, anecdotes, and interactive discussions to explore evolving and radical ideas about how music therapists can work collaboratively to re-envision practice, research, advocacy, and their roles in aging care and beyond.
Dr. Laurel Young, Ph.D., MTA, RP (Ontario); Psychotherapist (Quebec), Fellow and Approved Trainer, Association for Music & Imagery (FAMI),(she/her), is a Professor of Music Therapy at Concordia University (Montreal) and served as the Associate Director of engAGE: Concordia Centre for Research on Aging (2017-2025). She is continuing on in her work there as a research member, a role she holds in other contexts including Concordia’s School of Health and the Centre for Research and Expertise in Social Gerontology (CREGÉS). Her music therapy career has spanned over three decades wherein she has assumed multiple roles including that of clinician, researcher, educator, supervisor, author, speaker, trainer, advocate, board member, and professional leader. She remains fiercely proud of her music therapist identity and seeks to fuel others’ passion for our profession as it continues to evolve.
Do you as a music therapist or Music Psychotherapist feel appropriately represented in today’s healthcare system? Participants will have a chance to explore a variety of clinical scenarios reflective of their lived experience and hear about the current policies in place to ensure appropriate representation of the field.
Ashley Kurkjian (RP, MTA, MMT; she/her/elle) is a Music Psychotherapist currently completing her PhD in Music (Music Therapy Concentration) at Wilfrid Laurier University. She works at New Song Music Therapy, specializing in providing Music Psychotherapy services to Toronto-based long-term care facilities in the Greater Toronto Area.
This exploratory study explored how music therapists use music for emotion regulation in their daily lives and how this practice may be influenced by occupational burnout. Findings reveal a significant decrease in personal music listening among therapists experiencing high levels of emotional exhaustion at work.
Candela Castro (she/her), Music Therapist, MA, NMT, PhD student, is currently a PhD student in Music & Health Sciences at the University of Toronto. Originally trained in Music Therapy at the University of Buenos Aires (Argentina), she has clinical experience in adult neurorehabilitation and currently combines clinical practice with research focused on the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying music-based interventions after acquired brain injury. Candela has worked as a university lecturer and thesis advisor, and has been involved in interdisciplinary research teams in Argentina and Canada. Her work bridges evidence-based music therapy, neuroscience, and clinical translation in rehabilitation settings.
This presentation shares the findings of a randomized controlled study that explored the use of music therapy to help university students manage stress. Both psychometric and biomarker data (cortisol) collected in this study support the use of music therapy for proactive wellness.
Dr. Rachael Finnerty, PhD, RP, MTA, has been recognized as a music therapist since 2001, and a psychotherapist since 2015. She has experience working with a diversity of age groups, and diagnoses in private practice and hospital settings, receiving the YWCA woman of distinction award in 2015 in health care. Rachael brought 2 music therapy courses to McMaster University in 2010 and currently educates over 5000 students each academic year about music therapy. To provide further education to the community and to healthcare professionals Rachael founded the Music Therapy Academy. Her research focus is the use of music therapy for proactive wellness.
Join us in discussing how music-based cognitive interventions support adults with suicidal ideations. This presentation highlights therapeutic impact, lived experiences, and the critical role of supervision, and safeguarding across clinical populations. Deepen your understanding of promoting ethical, inclusive mental health practices through music.
Steffi Friyia, MA, MTA, NMT, MTAO president (she/her), is a music therapist working with individuals across the lifespan with various needs and abilities. She has special interest in depression and suicide studies relating to music therapy.
Melissa Tan, PhD (she/her), is a registered psychotherapist and neurologic music therapist with research interests in music-based interventions for suicidal ideation. She is a part-time faculty member at Concordia University and sessional lecturer at the University of Toronto.
Topics & Questions by suggestion or bring them for discussion on the day! Please email education@musictherapyontario.com.
Noreen Donnell, RP, MTA, NMT, MMT, is the owner/director of MusicByDesign, the co-founder of ComMusicate Speech, Language, and Communication Training and Intervention Services, a clinical supervisor and music psychotherapist at Shine Music and Therapy Services, and a sessional instructor and clinical supervisor at Wilfrid Laurier University. She is a speaker and workshop facilitator throughout Canada and has previously served as Vice President for the CAMT and Ethics Chair for the MTAO. Additionally, Noreen has been supervising music therapists at the practicum, internship, and professional levels for over 30 years.
Music is a fundamental part of being human, supporting health, identity, and wellbeing. This session explores music-centred and person-centred practices within Community Music Therapy that empower clients, foster hope and solidarity, and strengthen professional practice. Participants will reflect on strategies to engage clients meaningfully and extend positive impact across diverse settings.
Ruth Watkiss, MTA, has served as the dedicated Music Therapist at the Alzheimer Society Peel (ASP) for over twenty years. Her work is centered on the belief that music provides powerful support for persons living with dementia, enabling them to live life to the fullest. Ruth is recognized for driving culture change within the sector by developing and leading collaborative community initiatives, including Memories to Music with Mentor College, Raising Voices with the Mississauga Festival Choir, and a partnership with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
In a landmark achievement, Ruth led ASP to become the first Music Care Certified organization in Canada, an initiative that included training over 20 staff members in the practical use of music in care. This effort ensures the connecting power of music is integrated and sustained across the entire organization, supporting quality of life throughout the dementia journey. Her commitment to this work has been formally recognized with the 2024 Walk With Me Trailblazer for Culture Change Award and the 2025 Mississauga Arts Council Arts for Mental Health Award.
In a field fueled by heart, creativity, and compassion, music therapists often find themselves balancing on the edge between passion and exhaustion. This keynote invites us to pause — to take a collective breath — and reflect on how we sustain both our calling and ourselves. Through story, song, and shared reflection, Kimberly Dolan explores the ways that breath, in music and in life, can guide us back to clarity, connection, and purpose.
Drawing from lived experience and community-based practice, this presentation acknowledges the realities of burnout and the emotional weight of our work, while offering a message of hope and renewal. Together, we’ll examine how curiosity, collaboration, and authenticity can help us reimagine what “good enough” looks like — not as a finish line, but as an invitation to deeper care for ourselves, our colleagues, and our communities. Participants will leave with renewed energy, grounded practices, and a reminder that the rhythm of our profession — and our wellbeing — begins with one simple, collective breath.
Kimberly Dolan (she/her), RP, MTA, MMT is a Certified Music Therapist, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), and Holistic Wellness Advocate based in Kingston, Ontario. She is the co-founder of Synergy Music Therapy & Wellness Services where she works with folks from all walks of life, and an outreach worker with the Downtown Kingston BIA’s Welcoming Streets program, where she supports individuals navigating homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges. With a background in psychology (BA) and a Master of Music Therapy (MMT) from Wilfrid Laurier University, Kimberly brings experience from diverse settings — including forensic mental health, developmental and neurological care, and community outreach. Her approach is grounded in social justice, compassion, and creative collaboration, and she believes deeply that everyone deserves the opportunity to live a fulfilled and well life.
The MTAO is pleased to offer a group rate for two room options, both at $159+HST/night for hotel accommodations through Holiday Inn Kingston-Waterfront. The link for bookings can be found here. The hotel offers daily parking on their property for $30 daily. Link expires January 28th.
If you have any dietary restrictions, please fill out this form so that we may best cater to your dietary needs. By not filling out this form, you acknowledge that we may not be able to provide a meal that matches your needs.
Lunch will be sponsored by Firehouse Subs, #C106, 1046 Princess St, Kingston, ON K7L 1H2 location!
**CLOSED**
Venue: The Holiday Inn Kingston-Waterfront
Time: 7-10pm
You’re invited to a semi-formal evening of celebration, connection, and community. This gala is a chance to come together to reconnect, reflect, and enjoy each other’s company in a welcoming and relaxed setting. Whether you are a music therapist, student, supporter, or friend of the music therapy community, all are welcome.
Enjoy a casual-elegant atmosphere with pizza available throughout the evening and a cash bar on site. Come dressed semi-formal, bring your colleagues or friends, and join us for a night of conversation, laughter, and shared appreciation for the power of music and community.