Awards and Celebrations
Aaron Copeland Partnership Award
This award is given to an individual or individuals who are not music
Aaron Copeland received music therapy services at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in East Orange, New Jersey. He accepted an invitation to attend a Music Therapy Day at the New Jersey State House in Trenton March 26,
If you know of someone who should be nominated for this award contact njamtpresident@gmail.com.
Recipients
2020 – Gerard Costa, Ph.D., DIR-C, IMH-E- IV- Clinical Mentor and New
Jersey Licensed Psychologist received the award on October 27, 2020
preceding a virtual New Jersey Music Therapy Association continuing
education workshop. Dr. Costa’s career positions include Director for the
Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health, and Professor of Early
Childhood Elementary and Literacy Education at Montclair State University in
addition to Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at
Rutgers University – New Jersey Medical School and graduate school faculty
for the DIR Institute and Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and
Learning (ICDL), founded by the late Dr. Stanley Greenspan and Dr. Serena
Wieder among his many other titles and responsibilities.
Dr. Costa’s advocacy included testimony in legislative hearing to support
licensing for music therapists in New Jersey, and serving on the New Jersey
Autism Executive Stakeholder Planning Work Group for the Department of
Children and Families/Children’s System of Care which resulted in
amendments to the New Jersey Medicaid State Plan for services for children
with autism that provide expanded funding to include a multidisciplinary array
of services beyond narrow focused treatments which have typically been a
behavioral paradigm. Dr. Costa stated he did this because “he wanted New
Jersey to be a national leader in bringing the developmental and multidisciplinary
sciences to support full and inclusive human development, individual differences,
and quality of life.
2008 - Robyn Wramage-Caporoso, OTL/R, NCC, Director of Rehabilitation Services, Trenton Psychiatric Hospital (went on to accept the position of Director of Psychiatric Services) received the award December 15,
2005 - Governor Richard J. Codey received the award in 2005; but the ceremony was postponed until March 6,
Governor Richard J. Codey pictured with music therapists Judy Belland, Sheila Riley-Massa, Carol Ann Blank, Roia Rafieyan, and Donna Faraone, music therapist and Performance Improvement Coordinator at VA NJHCS.
2002 - Thomas and Lucy Ott received the award December 2,
2001 - Matheny Home and Hospital received the award March 8,
2000 - New Jersey Assemblywoman Mary T. Previte, Assemblyman Louis D. Greenwald, and Senator John H. Adler received awards in a ceremony at the State House in Trenton, New Jersey.
Performance
Assemblywoman Mary T. Previte and Roia Rafieyan, music therapist.
1999 - Veteran Aaron Copeland, who was an outspoken advocate of music therapy, received the award posthumously and the Partnerships in Music Therapy Award
Recognition of Music Therapy in New Jersey
Several legislators have sponsored resolutions recognizing the music therapy profession and designating a Music Therapy Day through the years. Typically these are held in Trenton, New Jersey at the State Capitol and are organized and implemented by NJAMT to educate legislators about the profession of music therapy. Legislators are given opportunities to meet one on one with music therapists and to view educational and musical presentations to provide a basis for
Music Therapy Day December 15, 2008
This event featured the presentation of the Aaron Copeland Partnership Award, a performance by students of Jersey City Public Schools who were receiving music therapy services, and the presentation of a Joint Legislative Resolution honoring the New Jersey Association for Music Therapy (NJAMT) and acknowledging the contributions of music therapy in the field of health care.
Jersey City student choir led by Erika Svolos and Mechelle Chestnut, music therapists.
Joint Legislative Resolution
By Senate President CODEY, Assemblyman MCKEON and Assemblywoman JASEY
Whereas, The Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey are pleased to recognize December 15, 2008, as Music Therapy Day in the Garden State, an appropriate occasion to acknowledge and affirm the significance and importance of music in the field of health care; and,
Whereas, Music therapy, which had been mentioned in the writings of Aristotle and Plato, began as a discipline after World War II when musicians were asked to play at numerous veterans' hospitals throughout the nation and, since that time, music therapy has been used to effect positive changes in the psychological, physical, cognitive, or social functioning of children, adolescents, adults, and senior citizens with a variety of medical difficulties; and,
Whereas, There are more than one hundred and twenty health care and educational institutions that employ in excess of one hundred fifty music therapists in this State to provide services to people with special needs, and today there are more than four thousand music therapists in the nation who offer the promise of more rewarding, fulfilling, and less painful lives for millions of people; and,
Whereas, Montclair State University has offered Music Therapy as an academic major since 1969, making it one of the oldest educational programs in the country; and,
Whereas, New Jersey is home to more than twenty-five clinical training sites for providing the necessary clinical training to those desiring to become music therapists; and,
Whereas, It is altogether proper and fitting for this Legislature to note Music Therapy Day on December 15, 2008, and to commend the members of the New Jersey Association for Music Therapy for their significant contributions to the field of music therapy; now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
That this Legislature hereby honors and salutes the New Jersey Association for Music Therapy, pays tribute to the meritorious record of its leaders and members, and extends sincere best wishes for a successful and enjoyable Music Therapy Day on December 15, 2008
Be It Further Resolved, That a duly authenticated copy of this resolution be signed by the Senate President and the Assembly Speaker and attested by the Senate Secretary and the Assembly Clerk.
Kathy Murphy, music therapist, receiving Joint Resolution from Senate President, Richard J. Codey.
Signed - Richard J. Codey
President of the Senate
Joseph J. Roberts, Jr.
Speaker of the General Assembly
Special Education Day September 2005
The Matheny Medical and Educational Center choir led by music therapists performed for legislators.
Creative Arts Therapies Week March 7 - 13, 2004
Resolution sponsored by Senator Bob Smith, Assemblymen Upendra J. Chivukula, and Joseph V. Egan designated the week and a framed Proclamation was presented to Karen Litecky Melendez, Chair of the newly formed New Jersey State Task Force and Government Relations liaison for NJAMT, in a ceremony later in the year in recognition of the contributions of music therapy in New Jersey.
Music Therapy Day 2004
The framed proclamation of Music Therapy Day sponsored by Senator Bob Smith was presented in March of 2004 to Karen Litecky, Government Relations Chair, who accepted it on behalf of NJAMT. The actual presentation event was held earlier and included a performance by the Trenton Psychiatric Hospital choir.
Special Education Day 2004
Music performance by the Matheny Medical and Educational Center choir led by music therapists to a standing ovation in General Assembly Chambers.
Creative Arts Therapies Capitol Day March 8, 2001
This year music therapists joined forces with art and dance therapists at the State House in Trenton, instead of hosting an individual music therapy day. CAT Capitol Day included displays set up in the Annex tunnel, presentations of awards by each therapy profession, and a ceremony that included performances by choirs of Trenton Psychiatric Hospital and Matheny Home and Hospital as well as dance and art presentations.
Music Therapy Day March 8, 2000
The day was planned to coincide with Creative Arts Therapy Week and included a Legislative Breakfast as a means to meet and share information with legislators. A display table with NJAMT materials was set up in a State House hallway and music was provided by music therapists Edy Toussaint pictured here and Amanda Applegate to gather legislators. The two music therapists were invited to play Irish music on the floor of the General Assembly Chambers. There was also an awards ceremony with a performance by the HDC Singers (Hunterdon Development Center) under
Music Therapy Day March 16, 1999
Event held in conjunction with the Mid-Atlantic Region (MAR) Conference at Long Branch, New Jersey. Music performance by the Matheny Medical and Educational Center choir led by music therapists. During the MAR
Music Therapy Day March 26, 1998
Music Therapy Day, June 22, 1997
This event was in the State House Annex, Room 101 in Trenton, New Jersey. It was unfortunate that the Senate session was canceled on this day which limited attendance; however, some senators still came to the room.
Music Therapy Day, June 13, 1996
Senator Robert W. Singer was Co-Sponsor of the Music Therapy Day resolution. Veteran Aaron Copeland who received music therapy services at the Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Health Care System in East Orange, New Jersey spoke to legislators in support of music therapy and opened the Senate session by singing God Bless the USA. The ceremonies and legislator meetings for this "Celebration for the Proclamation of Music Therapy Day" were held in the State House Annex, Room 101. School students led by music therapist Helen Patrosio provided entertainment. Music therapist Kathy Murphy became MAR Government Relations Representative leaving the state position.
Music Therapy Day June 22, 1995
Proclamation signed by Governor Christine Todd Whitman read in the State House Rotunda with performances by the Matheny Performance Choir led by music therapists Linda Lemmerman, Kristen Schlieben, Amy Clarkson, and Marie Fosket and the East Orange VA Medical Center Choir led by Donna Faraone,
Music Therapy Day 1994
This was the first year for this type of event. Julie McConnell served as Government Relations Representative for New Jersey.
Hill Day
Hill Days are organized by the New Jersey State Task Force (NJSTF) under the auspices of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association (MAR-AMTA) to educate legislators about the profession of music therapy and garner support for legislative efforts. New Jersey music therapists and music therapy students join NJSTF in this effort by attending scheduled and impromptu meetings with legislators at the State House. Displays are set up in the
August 1, 2016
Focus for this Hill Day was New Jersey Senate legislators regarding sponsorship and support for the Music Therapist Licensing Act of the 2016-2017 legislative session S1601/A783.
June 11, 2015
An Advocacy Workshop was presented by NJSTF for music therapist and music therapy student participants of Hill Day to prepare them for meeting with legislators later that day. F
Kimberly Seeds, music therapist, with Music Therapist Licensing Act Sponsor Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez