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I remain in awe of the energy and commitment of music therapists across Europe who are working so hard, not only to provide services but to promote and establish our profession, often against a background of economic and political turmoil.Here are a just a few of the events in the region since I last wrote:
- Establishment of annual European Music Therapy Day, 15 November 2014
- Presentations at the Online Conference for Music Therapy, 7/8 Feb 2015
- ICMT: International Conference of Music Therapy in Pescara, Italy, 24-26 April 2015
- 1st Russian Conference on Therapeutic Use of Music in Moscow, 30 May 2015
- National Music Therapy Week in the UK, 22-28 June 2015
- 8th Nordic Music Therapy Congress in Oslo, 5-8 August 2015
- Call for Abstracts, 10th European Music Therapy Conference, Vienna, 5-9 July 2016
The recent Nordic Congress in Oslo, of which I hear great reports, also hosted the launch of a Special Issue of Approaches: Music Therapy & Special Music Education Magazine, which has been published in partnership with the European Music Therapy Confederation and is available on the organization's website.Music Therapy in Europe: Paths of Professional Development This makes for fascinating reading and gives an extraordinarily detailed picture of milestones achieved and the successes and challenges met by music therapists who teach, research and practise within the various cultures of Europe. Many thanks to the Editors, Hanne Mette Ridder & Giorgos Tsiris and good reading for all of us!Finally, as WFMT celebrates our 30th Anniversary, it is worth pausing for a moment to think about the Founders - meeting together in 1985 in Genoa, Italy and the vision they held for a worldwide membership, dedicated to strengthening our profession’s collective ‘voice.’This vision still holds true, so if you are not yet a member – do consider either becoming an individual member or if you have a professional association, encouraging them to join. If you have any thoughts you want to share, I can be contacted via europe@wfmt.infoMs. Angela Harrison, UKWFMT Regional Liaison, Europe
