[Original Voices: World Congresses of Music Therapy]
11th World Congress of Music Therapy from a participant perspective: An interview with Nicole Rivera
By Krzysztof Stachyra
Krzysztof Stachyra: How do you remember the music therapy conference in Brisbane?
Nicole Rivera: For me, the experience of attending the 2005 World Congress of Music Therapy in Brisbane, Australia was about expanding both professionally and personally. Traveling to Australia was both familiar and far away. I picked up the latest Harry Potter book the night before I ventured out on 30+ hours of travel to get to Brisbane. There were familiar faces of other music therapists on the plane from Los Angeles to Brisbane. When I arrived in Brisbane I was struck by the similarities to the United States and the infusion of American popular culture. But I had traveled to push beyond those familiar boundaries and I wanted to see some things that were uniquely Australian along the way.
K.S.: What about professional perspective of this event? What remained deep in your mind?
N.R.: The theme of the conference program, From Lullaby to Lament, captured the notion of expansion and exploring the applications of music therapy throughout the life experience. I had the opportunity to share about my work with sensory integration and music therapy with children with autism, but I made a point to attend conference sessions outside of my clinical experiences. Two keynote addresses that really moved me were Helen Shoemark’s talk about her extraordinary work with infants and Anja Tait and her work with Indigenous communities.
K.S.: I know that you participated in the choir rehearsals during the conference. Could you say something more about it?
N.R.: One of the other highlights of the conference was participating in the conference choir with James Cuskelly. We met at 7:45am each day of the conference then performed at the closing ceremony. It was amazing to sing with musicians gathered from around the world. Cuskelly lead us through vocal exercises and folk and popular music such as Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. I often find myself singing a folk song that we learned and sang as a gorgeous cannon.
The River is Flowing
The river is flowing, flowing and growing
The river is flowing down to the sea
Mother carry me, the child I will always be
Mother carry me, down to the sea
K.S.: Singing in a choir must have been also a nice social event. Participating in a conference is a time to make new friends, isn’t it? Did you broaden your circle of friends?
N.R.: People at the conference were also both familiar and new. Many music therapists from the Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association conference were in attendance. One evening, my good friends Ellen and Henry Rayfield hosted a lovely dinner for people from our region. At the time of the conference, I was working at a school for children with autism that was part of an international network of schools, one of which was located in Sydney. I was delighted to meet some of the music therapists from the Sydney school after the conference. They graciously shared about their work.
K.S.: Was something that diversify this conference from the other you took part in?
N.R.: Yes, one of the classic Australian features of the conference was the connection to the county’s history. I recall most of the formal sessions starting with a statement of remembrance of the people that came before. William Barton taught workshops about playing the didgeridoo. Then William and Dalmae Barton, a Dreamtime Opera Diva, were featured in the closing session. The Barton’s music was truly transformative.
K.S.: You are a very open person, engaged in many projects. It probably doesn’t let you stay in a place so I guess that you used your stay in Australia to travel around.
N.R.: My quest to know more about Australia was supported by pre/ post tours that were available through the conference planners. Before the conference, I traveled to the Australia Zoo and saw Steve Irwin do a demonstration with his crocs. Irwin was the familiar personality I had watched so many times on TV with my children. After the conference, I traveled to Cairns. The 4-day trip included traveling by Skyrail over the treetops of the rain forest, a visit to the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, and snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef. I will always remember the sound of parrot fish nibbling on the reef as I was swimming near one of the great structures of the ocean.
K.S.: How could you summarize your trip to the congress to Australia?
N.R.: Traveling to the 2005 World Congress of Music Therapy took me across the world and truly expanded me both professionally and personally. I also learned that no matter how far you travel, if you are meeting with music therapists you are always right at home.
K.S.: Thank you Nicole for this interesting and nice conversation.
