Mia was born and raised in Kansas City, and obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas (Rock Chalk!). Two months after graduating, she moved out to sunny San Diego and completed her six-month internship at The Music Therapy Center of California in January of 2025.
Mia’s love for music began long before she could put it into words. Her parents have always joked that she was singing before she could talk, and could often be found singing, dancing, or putting on a show for her family—always looking for a way to express herself through music. She grew up in the Kindermusik education program, where her love for music continued to blossom. At age 7, she began piano and voice lessons, followed by oboe lessons in 5th grade. Throughout her childhood, she played clarinet, saxophone, and oboe in concert bands and orchestras. She also participated in extracurricular ensembles including the Youth Symphony of Kansas City and the Allegro Choirs of Kansas City, through which she traveled across the country to perform at conferences and competitions. Her passion for music continued into college, where she pursued a Bachelor’s degree in music therapy, with oboe as her primary instrument, and received oboe performance scholarships throughout all four years of her undergraduate education.
Music had always been a meaningful part of Mia’s life, but it was her grandmother’s experience with music therapy that first showed her how music could become a powerful modality of healing and connection.
Mia never knew a life without her grandmother, Vivian, who moved in with her family when she was three years old and remained a constant and cherished presence throughout her childhood. When Mia was a junior in high school, Vivian began receiving in-home hospice care, which included music therapy. She had the privilege of sitting in on many of her sessions and witnessed firsthand the profound impact music had on her grandmother’s comfort, happiness, and quality of life. Her grandmother’s music therapist, a graduate of the University of Kansas, also introduced Mia to music therapy as a profession and sparked her interest in pursuing the field. Throughout college, Mia continued to experience the impact of music therapy as both of her grandfathers received services in hospice and memory care settings. These experiences deepened her understanding of music’s ability to connect, comfort, and bring meaning to people and their families, ultimately shaping her belief in the importance and healing potential of music therapy.
After graduating from KU in May of 2024, Mia moved to San Diego to complete her internship with MTC, where she experienced some of the most fulfilling, challenging, and educational six months of her life. Learning from each and every client she served sparked a passion for the population and deepened her appreciation for the profession and the work being done at MTC.
Mia loved the culture, community, and clients during her internship at MTC so she knew she wanted to stay on as a full-time employee! She is excited to be working with the people and organizations MTC serves, getting to make music, and continuing to change lives one note at a time. In December 2025, Mia earned her board certification as a music therapist, marking an exciting milestone in her journey and the beginning of her career as a professional music therapist.
“I am driven by the transformative power of music therapy, and rooted in its impact on both the clients I serve and myself. I view music as a universal language that speaks beyond words, connects beyond barriers, and has the potential to resonate with every person. I am dedicated to continually honing my clinical skills to provide thoughtful, individualized and effective care. I am a strong advocate for equal rights and believe in assuming competence, honoring individuality, and meeting every client with equality, empathy, creativity, and intention.”
