About Us

Who We Are

VMTA has been an active advocate for music therapy in Virginia for over 25 years. Our organization has made a concerted effort to bring music therapists together through state meetings, the creation of regional music therapy groups, MAR Conferences, and social media. In recent years we have actively promoted legislative efforts for state regulation and licensure of music therapy through the creation of the Virginia State Task Force.

Become a Member

Join VMTA

What is Music Therapy?

According to the American Music Therapy Association (2017), music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has co

mpleted an approved music therapy program. Areas addressed in music therapy can include physical, psychological, cognitive, social, spiritual, and musical functioning for patients of all ages. Music therapists work across the lifespan (i.e. infancy to end-of-life care) and in a variety of settings. Music therapists are certified by the Certification Board for Music Therapists, and hold the credential Music Therapist – Board Certified (MT-BC).

VMTA Executive Board

President

Recording Secretary

Vice President

Ashleigh Cicconi, EdD, MT-BC, CCTS-F, CBC, holds degrees in music therapy, education, and educational leadership, as well as certifications in music therapy, family trauma treatment, and cognitive behavior coaching. Graduating from the University of Miami and specializing in neurologic music therapy, Dr. Cicconi has been an active board-certified music therapist with her own private practice for 13 years. Combining her therapeutic skills and educational background, she has also served as a school administrator, special education coordinator, special education teacher, and general music teacher. She is currently an adjunct professor at Longy School of Music, where she teaches graduate courses in music education and music therapy.

Vice President

Recording Secretary

Vice President

Taylor Brown, MT-BC served as the treasurer of VMTA since 2024 and looks forward to continuing to serve as vice president.

Taylor is a board-certified music therapist. Her main instrument is voice, she is trained in double-bass, guitar and piano. She has worked with older adults with early to late-stage Dementia, adults in oncology care, patients in palliative care, patients recovering from TBI/stroke and children to young adults on the Autism Spectrum. Taylor takes a humanistic approach to her clinical work and her practice is client centered. She considers herself to have an uplifting and energetic presence that goes well with older adults and younger children.

Recording Secretary

Corresponding Secretary

Kayla Braamse, MT-BC has served as the Virginia Music Therapy Association Vice President since 2022. While she is no longer able to serve in the Vice President's role, she still has a strong desire to serve on the VMTA board in a different role.

She is excited to welcome new voices onto the VMTA board.

Corresponding Secretary

Emily Delene, MT-BC, is a music therapist with Personal Touch Home Care and Hospice and a current graduate student in Music Therapy at Shenandoah University. A Carroll University alumna, she held several leadership positions during her undergraduate years, including section leader, facilities fellow in the music department, and resident assistant. With nearly two years of clinical experience in both adolescent residential treatment and hospice care, Emily brings a compassionate, grounded approach to her work. Now residing in Portsmouth, Virginia, after relocating with her husband, a member of the U.S. Coast Guard. She excited to serve on the board of the Virginia Music Therapy Association to further support and engage with the music therapy community in the mid-Atlantic region.

Treasurer

Anna Lise Filippone, MT-BC

Bio coming soon!

Past - President

Ashley Carroll, MA MT-BC is the Program Director for Tidewater Arts Outreach serving the Hampton Roads, Williamsburg and soon, Richmond.

She served as the President of VMTA since January of 2022 - January 2026. Although she is not currently practicing music therapy clinically, she continues to be a strong advocate and is proud of the progress the state of Virginia has made with getting licensure in the state as of December 1st, 2025!

She received her Bachelor of Music Therapy from Eastern Michigan University in 2010 and her Master of Art in Music Therapy in 2020.

Executive Board Vacancies

*Appointed positions*

Student Liaison

Liaison is a PROFESSIONAL member who will communicates with Student representatives from the universities in the state with Music Therapy programs about VMTA activities and report to VMTA on activities happening at the educational institutions.

Student Representative

Are students enrolled in a music therapy program who represent the students of their respective MT program at VMTA meetings.

Public Relations and Social Media Chair

Serves as the liaison between VMTA and the MAR Public Relations chair.
Serves as VMTA Media Chair
Responsible for updating Website and Social Media (i.e Facebook, Insta, etc.)

Learn more