[Section Voices: World Congresses of Music Therapy]

Introduction to the Interview on the 10th World Congress of Music Therapy

By Barbara L. Wheeler

I am pleased to introduce our interview series on the 10th World Congress of Music Therapy, held in Oxford, England, in 2002. The congress was memorable because it took place in stately and historic Oxford University. Those in attendance were privileged to enjoy some of the traditions of Oxford University as well as the area. It was hosted by the British Society for Music Therapy (BSMT), the Association of Professional Music Therapists (APMT) and, of course, the World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT).

I hope that you will enjoy reading what some of the conference organizers have written. This includes Nigel Hartley, Chair of the Congress; Leslie Bunt, Chair of the International Scientific Committee; Gary Ansdell, Deputy Chair of the Scientific Committee; and Denize Christophers, Administrator. We also have two interviews of presidents of the World Federation, one of Denise Grocke, who was president during the congress and has updated the interview that she did as part of the 9th World Congress, held in Washington, DC, in 1999, when her presidency began; and of Suzanne Hanser, who began her presidency at the end of the conference.

You will find the first four pages of the congress program. Thank you to all who have shared their memories and photographs [flickr set of photos]!

Of course, all of the world congresses that have been held since the founding of the WFMT in 1985 have been under its sponsorship. More information on WFMT can be found at http://www.wfmt.info/WFMT/Home.html. A number of papers from this conference can be found as a link from the WFMT site: http://www.wfmt.info/WFMT/2014_&_2017_World_Congresses_files/Proceedings%20Oxford_2002.pdf

I hope that you enjoy reading about the 10th World Congress of Music Therapy and that it brings back memories for many of you.

This is the last interview series that I will be organizing as one of the Interview Co-Editors for Voices. Seung-A Kim will join Interview Co-Editors Leslie Bunt and Krzysztof Stachyra, and I believe that the interview series will continue. I have enjoyed working with the Voices interviews, including helping to document the World Congresses.