NBA Team
Hayley Francis Cann, BMT, MTA, MScAH, NMT-F
Hayley Francis Cann (she/her), BMT, NMT-F, MScAH, MTA is a certified music therapist (#0938) and neurologic music therapist fellow recognized by the Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT) and The Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy. She is the serving Professional Development Chair (since 2020) and President-Elect (2022-2023) for the CAMT Board of Directors. Hayley currently provides music therapy services to Bermuda and virtually in Canada through her practice Synergy Music Therapy & Wellness Services. She has clinical experience with seniors including dementia and Alzheimer’s, individuals with developmental disabilities, and rehabilitation including stroke and acquired brain injury. Beyond direct clinical service, Hayley has authored and released two Children’s books: "Mandy's Mom, The Music Therapist", “Mandy’s Musical Mask,” and produced a music therapy podcast (Able Voice Podcast). In everything she does, Hayley aims to provide an authentic experience that is respectful toward all people no matter their background, diagnosis, ability, or additional social locators.
Sonja Knaus, RP (Qualifying), MMT, MTA
Sonja Knaus currently provides music therapy services in various clinical and home-based settings including long-term care, adult day programs, retirement homes, private practice, community health centres, and group homes. She also does some in-home music teaching for children and adolescents looking to learn guitar and piano. She has clinical experience with seniors including dementia and Alzheimer’s, individuals with developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorder, adult mental health and addictions, and adults with physical disabilities.
Sonja is looking forward to further developing her music psychotherapy practice and strongly believes in the value and potential that music has to bring about positive change in people’s lives. Outside of clinical work, Sonja enjoys making original music with close friends and family and staying in touch with nature whenever possible. Sonja is bilingual and can provide music therapy services in both English and Serbian. Sonja aims to provide engaging and person-centered experiences for all individuals, families, and communities she works with, and enjoys learning about people’s cultures, backgrounds, and preferences to enrich in-session experiences.
Len McCarthy, PhD, MTA
Len is an accredited music therapist with a Master of Music Therapy from Wilfrid Laurier University, and also holds a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from York University, and Masters of Music Education from University of Toronto. He has interned at Toronto’s Baycrest Hospital and Sunnybrook Hospital, and has worked with adults and children in the Kitchener-Waterloo and Guelph area for the past 4 years. His clients have included children and adults with developmental delays, cognitive and/or physical impairments. His therapeutic philosophy is person-centered and strengths-based, rooted in Orff Music Therapy (a synthesis of speech. singing, movement, improvisation and drama). When working with groups, Len favours Community Music Therapy techniques that emphasize cooperation, collaboration and mutual respect.
Len also has extensive experience as a bandleader and performer (keyboard, guitar, ukulele, woodwinds), composer, record producer and teacher (at elementary, secondary and university levels). He offers ukulele, guitar and keyboard workshops to adults and music therapists in the Kitchener-Waterloo (Ontario) area, focusing upon popular music techniques and strategies, at Music @ Green Gables, a Kitchener music school cofounded with his wife Jennifer Stacey (an early childhood music specialist). He is also an award-winning songwriter, selected twice by the WFMT (World Federation of Music Therapy) to compose songs for events and conferences.
Candace Rahn, RP, BMus, MTA
Candace holds a Bachelor of Music Therapy Degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, and is a credentialed music therapist and Registered Psychotherapist who has worked 19 years with the geriatric population in the Greater Toronto Area (12 of which was treating War Veterans). The last 6 years she turned her interests towards Private Practice in South Western Ontario with a focus on Palliative and Hospice care, as well as Adults with Developmental and Physical Challenges. Over the years, Candace has maintained her love of music by performing on piano and percussion. She has accompanied in various settings and sung in choirs and small groups. Candace enjoys the psychotherapy aspect of her work and maintains her professional practice by engaging in continuing education opportunities. Candace has dedicated her voluntary time and service to the Music Therapy Association of Ontario over several terms of work on the Board. Candace enjoys educating others about music therapy and believes strongly in the evidence based use of music, striving to find new and creative ways to bring it to her clients. Candace offers an eclectic approach to her music psychotherapy services. Candace is the music therapist who provides individual music therapy for the Music and Medicine program overseen by Notes by Amy.
Grace Rogers, MMus, BFA
Grace Rogers holds a Master of Applied Music and Health from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University. She has clinical experience with aging populations, especially in settings focused on dementia care. As a trained vocalist, Grace enjoys facilitating interventions that use music and song as a conduit to accessing long term memory and cognitive function in adults with memory impairment.
Grace loves watching these individuals find meaning and identity as they connect with competencies from their implicit and long-term memory stores. Grace provides individual music therapy for Notes by Amy.