MUSIC SPEAKS IN the Great Lakes Region
The Great Lakes Region includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Of these, Music Speaks serves in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Music Speaks has been proudly serving in the Great Lakes Region since 2012, when we first began offering music therapy services in Chicago, Illinois. Since then, we’ve grown both within the suburbs of Chicago and throughout northern Illinois. In early 2020, Music Speaks had the opportunity to expand services to the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. We’re excited to be serving in these states and hope to continue to grow.
If you live in any state within the Great Lakes Region and are interested in music therapy services, please let us know!
Music Speaks is hiring! To learn more, check out our open positions.
Meet our Great Lakes Region therapists:
Alene Rounds, Intern
Alene is earning her Bachelors in Music Therapy degree from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. She is currently completing her internship with Music Speaks in Janesville, Wisconsin. Alene has experience working with young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She excited to be serving children and adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Ariel Contreras, MT-BC
Ariel Contreras earned their Bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. They completed their internship at Arbor Hospice/Hospice of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. Currently they live and work in Milwaukee, Wisconsin serving the southeast Wisconsin area. Ariel has experience working with adults and seniors in memory care, and both adult and pediatric hospice.
Arni Gmeiner, Intern
Arni earned their Bachelor's in Music Therapy from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. He is currently doing his internship with Music Speaks in Wisconsin. Arni has experience working with young children in early intervention, adults with intellectual/ developmental disabilities, and adult mental health.
Aryana Smith, MT-BC
Aryana has earned her Bachelors of Music in Music Therapy from Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She completed her Internship with Music Speaks, LLC in Janesville, Wisconsin. Aryana serves in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. She has experience working with clients diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities and is excited to continue this work.
EMILY O’HANLON, MT-BC
Emily earner her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI. She completed her internship at Hospice of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, OH. Emily serves in Madison, WI. She has experience working with older adults, hospice patients, and adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Joshua Morano, MT-BC
Joshua earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music and Psychology from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL, and his music therapy equivalency from Western Michigan University. He completed his internship at Metro Music Therapy in Denver, CO. Joshua serves in Madison, WI. Joshua has experience working with children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Julia Ricker, MT-BC
Julia earned her Bachelor's degree from Illinois State University in Normal, IL. She completed her internship at AccentCare Hospice in Chicago, IL. Julia serves in Chicago, IL. Julia has experience working with adults with dementia, well elderly, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, children with ADHD, children and adults with ID/DD, adults with mental health disorders, and hospice.
Lea Blackney, MT-BC
Lea earned her Music Therapy Equivalency from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. She completed her internship at Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Lea serves in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Lea has experience working with adults with older adults, disorders of consciousness, memory care and hospice.
Mackenzie Leighty, MT-BC
Mackenzie earned her degree in Music Therapy from the University of Louisville in Louisville, KY. She completed her internship with Fayette County Public Schools in Lexington, KY. Mackenzie serves in Madison, Wisconsin. She has experience working with young adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
MCKENNA SMITH, MT-BC
McKenna earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from Alverno College in Milwaukee, WI and has an additional bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. She is an Internship Supervisor with Music Speaks and serves as direct therapist in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. McKenna has experience working in many settings in music therapy including hospice, memory care, and children with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Meara Hillman, MA, MT-BC
Meara earned her master's equivalency from University of Iowa in Iowa City. She completed her internship at Park Nicollet Methodist in Minneapolis, and now lives and works in St. Paul, Minnesota. Meara has experience working with hospice and older adults in facility settings.
Nichole Koch, MT-BC
Nichole earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. She completed her internship at VA Iliana Health Care System Danville, Illinois. Nichole serves in Rockford, Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Nichole has experience working with older adults, adolescents, Veterans, memory care, hospice patients, and adults in-patient psychiatric care.
Olivia Watkins, MT-BC
Olivia earned her Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. She completed her internship at Cedar Community in West Bend, Wisconsin. Olivia serves in Chicago, Illinois. Olivia has experience providing music therapy in the following settings: pediatrics, early intervention, older adults, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and memory care.
photo coming soon
Reid rozen, MT-BC
Reid earned their Bachelors of Music Education from University of North Florida in Jacksonville FL. They are currently completing thier Master's of Music Therapy equivalency with a minor in counseling at Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, PA. He completed his internship at Long Island Music Therapy in both Nassau and Suffolk County NY. Reid serves in Dane and Rock County, Wisconsin. Reid has experience working with Autistic children and adults, children with ADHD, adults with developmental disabilities, and older adults.
Sage Shemak, Intern
Sage earned her Bachelor's of Music in Music Therapy from Carroll University in Waukesha, WI. She is currently completing her internship with Music Speaks in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Sage has experience working with older adults, memory care, adults and children with intellectual/developmental disabilities and children/adolescent mental health.