About Us

Ashley Carroll, MA, MT-BC is the Program Director for Tidewater Arts Outreach in Virginia Beach, VA. 

She has served as the President of VMTA since January of 2022. Although she is not currently practicing music therapy clinically, she continues to be a strong advocate and looks forward to licensure requirements being established in VA! 

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

Kayla Braamse, MT-BC is a music therapist currently practicing in the Hampton Roads area. 

She is has been practicing for 3 years, after graduating from Western Michigan University with her Bachelor's of Music Therapy in 2021. 

She brings a fresh perspective and a passionate drive to her service as Vice-President of VMTA. 

Taylor Brown, MT-BC

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. 

Sydne Rankins, MT-BC

Sydne received her Music Therapy degree from Radford University, follow by completing her internship at AMG Specialty Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Sydne received her  Board Certification in 2015 and has spent the time since working with adults and adolescents in behavioral health hospitals, people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, ad older adults in hospice and long term care. 

Sydne enjoys working with a wide variety of people and presenting issues. She currently works with teens with anxiety and depression and with adults in addiction recovery. Sydne excels in playing and teaching stringed instruments including guitar, ukulele, and mandolin. She believes in the power of m music to decrease anxiety and to connect and express one's emotions.

Abby D'Arcangelis, MT-BC 

  Abigail D’Arcangelis has been a practicing Board Certified Music Therapist since 2010. Having established the music therapy program in 2012 at Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury (SVWC), a continuing care retirement community in Winchester, VA, Abigail continues to grow the program. She oversees a national music therapy internship program; supervises university music therapy practicum students; established and co-facilitates two dementia care partner support groups, and is co-leader of the Interdisciplinary Dementia Inclusive Committee, a committee charged with improving life for those living with dementia at SVWC and the greater community.  Abigail is passionate about serving those living with dementia and other neurocognitive disorders as well as their families; collaborating with other disciplines, and advocating for the music therapy profession. She has guest lectured at the Eastman School of Music, Purdue University Fort Wayne, and is a frequent guest-lecturer at Shenandoah University. In addition, Abigail has presented at conferences for the American Music Therapy Association, the Pioneer Network, Linked Senior, Leading Age Virginia, Dementia Friends Virginia, and the Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association.  In addition to her Board Certification in music therapy and Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from Nazareth University in Rochester, NY, Abigail is a Fellow of Neurologic Music Therapy, a certified Hospice and Palliative Care Music Therapist, a Certified Dementia Practitioner, and a Certified Dementia Support Group Facilitator.  

 *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.)