Nikki Belshe Lanza, MNLM, MT-BC, is the founder and Clinical Director of Heart and Harmony Music Therapy. She is also founder and current President of the Board for Music Therapy Access Fund, a nonprofit founded in 2019 to increase access to music therapy. 

Nikki has a Masters of Nonprofit Leadership and Management degree from Arizona State University, and Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy with a minor in Vocal Studies from Sam Houston State University. Nikki is a board-certified music therapist (#08938) and was recognized as one of Fort Worth’s Forty Under Forty in 2020. She currently serves on the board of directors for Certification Board for Music Therapists.

Nikki has worked primarily with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 2009. She was a participant in The Arc of Texas Partners in Disability Leadership 2021. Nikki is passionate about autonomy and human rights.

Nikki cares deeply about professional sustainability and is invested not only in creating a healthy work environment for her staff members, but in empowering her colleagues to be aware of healthy and sustainable professional practices so that they can thrive. She cares about a whole slew of things including private practice ethics; racial, gender, and disability equity; and reimbursement, funding, and accessibility of music therapy. When she’s not making music, you’ll find Nikki hiking, tending plants, watching birds, reading in the hammock, or – most likely – being chased by her kiddos.

Karah Chappel, MT-BC, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors in Music Therapy from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. During her undergraduate years, Karah also completed undergraduate and graduate coursework in Criminal Justice & Criminology. Karah has distributed and published multiple research studies on topics such as music therapy in policing, trauma treatment in music therapy, and impacts of low socio-economic status on music therapy as a career choice. She also has additional training in organizational-level trauma informed care implementation. After completing her post-graduation internship in acute behavioral health and obtaining her MT-BC, Karah worked at an acute behavioral health facility before moving into her current position with Heart and Harmony.

Originally from Ohio, Karah is a transplant to the DFW area. In her free time, she enjoys meeting new people, exploring the metroplex, and being outside. Karah is not a fan of all the bugs in Texas and is open to any and all advice on keeping them out of her apartment.

Taylor Cockrum, MT-BC graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Music Therapy from Texas Woman’s University with her primary instrument as voice. She completed her internship with Heart and Harmony in Summer 2020. 

Taylor’s clinical experience includes working with children, teens, and adults with a variety of intellectual and developmental disabilities, older adults with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and people of all ages in a range of mental health settings including trauma, substance abuse, and behavioral disorders. 

Additionally, she became a Sound Birthing Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth Specialist in August 2020, and hopes to pursue further education and training to help support mothers and their babies through music throughout pre- and post-natal stages of pregnancy. 

When she is not singing or playing music, Taylor loves traveling around the world, musical theatre, sunflowers, drinking lots of coffee, and petting lots of dogs! She is passionate about inclusivity, representation, learning new things, and providing access to music (therapy AND education) services. 

Emily Hammons, MT-BC, grew up in San Antonio, Texas where she was involved in choirs and visual arts from a young age. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas with a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy and Voice Performance and a Minor in Psychology. 

In 2020, Emily completed her internship at Dallas Academy, a school for children with learning differences. Emily’s clinical experience also includes adult inpatient psychiatric mental health and substance abuse and migrant youth populations. Additionally, Emily is experienced in teaching traditional and adapted music lessons for beginners in voice, guitar, ukulele, and piano.

When Emily isn’t making music, she can be found baking, laughing with friends, painting, and walking her greyhound. 

Marissa Marmolejo, MMT, MT-BC, completed her Master’s of Music Therapy degree coursework at Texas Woman’s University. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of North Texas, with minors in psychology and Spanish. Marissa is currently conducting graduate research exploring the ways music therapists account for the intersecting identities of clients in their approach to practice. 

Marissa interned with Rehabilitative Rhythms, a nonprofit private practice in Aurora, Colorado, where she worked with neurodiverse individuals across the lifespan. During her time in Colorado, she networked with several neuro-rehab facilities and brain injury organizations, and successfully launched a beat-making group. Marissa strives to increase awareness of underrepresented genres like rap, hip hop, and r&b in music therapy to ensure that preferred music of all clients are honored. For this purpose, she also aims to increase knowledge and use of music technology in music therapy practice. In addition, Marissa’s recent clinical experience has been working at an inpatient mental health facility for individuals with socioemotional and behavioral needs.

During her free time, Marissa enjoys traveling, hiking, rock climbing, live music events, and spending time with her family, friends, and her dog.

Madison Michel, MM, MT-BC, Neonatal ICU Music Therapist, graduated from The University of Alabama with her BM in Music Therapy with a principle in voice in 2015, interned with Heart and Harmony Music Therapy. While working as a therapist for Heart and Harmony, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with her MM in Music Therapy from Colorado State University (distance) in December 2020. In addition, she has been honored as a DFW Child Magazine Mom-Approved Therapist two years in a row (2019-2020). Madison has been supervising interns since July 2017 and is now the Heart and Harmony Education Director with a vision to create a dynamic, supportive, and challenging environment that pushes each intern and practicum student to develop into a passionate and competent professional.

Madison specializes in a neurodevelopmental sensory-based treatment approach that uses the puzzle pieces of music, research, and therapeutic experience to target the individual needs of each client. She believes in lifelong learning and is currently independently studying the neurodevelopmental impacts of stress.

In addition to her work at Heart and Harmony, Madison has presented at both regional and national music therapy conferences and enjoys presenting in her community. She has worked for Adam’s Camp Colorado and Adam’s Camp Alaska on a multidisciplinary therapy team for both children with ASD and genetic disorders. Madison is proud to be a third generation music therapist and is currently pursuing historical research on her grandfather, Dr. Donald E. Michel, a pioneer in music therapy who began practicing in 1950.

Outside of music therapy, Madison enjoys spending time with her fiance and pets, board game nights, and hiking trips.

Madison was interviewed for Thrive, part of DFW Child Magazine.

Annie Roberson, MT-BC, Neonatal ICU Music Therapist, Sound Birthing Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth Specialist, completed her music therapy coursework at the University of Alabama with a primary instrument of trumpet. Annie completed her internship with Heart and Harmony in the fall of 2018. She is a professional member of Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN).

Annie’s clinical experience includes NICU infants, children, teens, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, children and teens with emotional and behavioral disorders, adults in oncology units, and adults with dementia in memory care units. Annie completed her Sound Birthing Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth Specialist in July 2019 and is excited to support parents and babies in the DFW area.

In her free time, Annie enjoys watching the Nashville Predators play hockey, the Alabama Crimson Tide win national championships, crocheting, and being in the great outdoors. Born and raised in Nashville, TN, Annie is thrilled to serve the DFW community with the incredible team of Heart and Harmony therapists!

Angelica Zavala, MT-BC, received a Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy with a minor in Psychology from Texas Woman’s University (TWU). She is currently pursuing a Master of Music Therapy from TWU. Angelica completed her clinical internship with Heart and Harmony in 2021 and is honored to provide services in her local community
alongside a supportive team of therapists.

Angelica’s clinical experience has been primarily with disabled people of all ages in the home health setting and recently with children and adolescents with mental health needs. In addition, she has experience working with clients in various settings, such as a non-profit therapeutic arts organization, inpatient eating disorder unit, juvenile detention center, and more.

Outside of work, Angelica enjoys spending quality time with her friends and family, painting, exploring the outdoors, and taking too many photos of her cat.

Ruth Franklin, Music Therapy Intern, is from Plano, Texas. She grew up loving music – you could catch Ruth listening to the radio on the bus ride home, singing in choir, or playing keys in the jazz band. Ruth is passionate about health and caring for those around her. She completed her music therapy classroom coursework at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and began to learn how music could be used to care for others. Ruth is thrilled to continue to learn and grow through her internship at Heart and Harmony.

Ruth loves spending time with people and getting to know their stories. Making music with other people is one of her favorite things to do– she often gets together with her friends for jam sessions. In her free time, Ruth enjoys watching movies with her family, going to concerts with her friends, or going on walks with her dogs.

Amanda Johnson, Music Therapy Intern, is from Kasson, MN. She graduated high school in Cresco, IA and attended Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. Voice is her primary instrument, but she can also play the french horn. While in college she was a four year member of St. Elizabeth’s Chorale, the all female ensemble at Wartburg College. She is excited to continue her education with us at Heart and Harmony. 

Amanda absolutely adores kiddos, she has loved to spend her time with any age from toddler to teenagers. She has loved to babysit and chill with her younger cousins just for fun. She loves music theater. She has participated in many shows as well as attended some. Her most recent involvement was playing the Dragon in Shrek the Musical. 

When not making music you can find Amanda curled up with a good book, watching a movie or painting/drawing. She absolutely loves silly romance books and fiction novels. She even enjoys writing stories of her own.