"This Could Really Be A Good Life"
Music And Youth Mental Health Annual forum
February 28th and March 1st 2025 | University of Toronto
Music plays a vital role in addressing the youth mental health crisis in Canada, providing a powerful avenue for connection, expression, and healing. Join us for an inspiring two-day forum bringing together music and health professionals, educators, industry leaders, community partners, and youth voices to explore the transformative potential of music in fostering mental well-being.
Through dynamic panel discussions, interactive and hands-on workshops, and a powerful opening night concert, participants will delve into initiatives already making a difference and identify opportunities for greater collaboration. Topics will include the integration of music therapy in schools and communities, leveraging creative expression to support resilience, and the importance of amplifying youth perspectives in shaping solutions.
Special guests for the evening include: Babel Chorus, the UTSC Concert Choir, Sistema Toronto, Sir Oliver Mowat C.I. String Quartet, and Exultate Chamber Singers, and Timothy Eaton Memorial Church (TEMC). Live DJing at our pre-reception will be hosted by UTSC Alumna Ayse Barut and visual recording of the evening’s programme will be facilitated by UTSC Alumna Sylvie Stojanovski.
Each of the panels below provide attendees with valuable insights and resources from the lived experiences of a wide cross-section of musicians, healthcare professionals, researchers, youth, and community organizations.
This forum is not just a conversation; it’s a call to action. Together, we will imagine and design pathways for creative, cross-sector partnerships that harness the power of music to transform lives and strengthen communities. Whether you are a health professional, educator, artist, youth leader, or simply passionate about supporting mental health, this forum is for you.
Panel 1 - Education; Music, Education, and Mental Health in Action (9:30-10:45am)
Join this engaging panel discussion exploring the intersection of music, education, and mental health in shaping equitable, inclusive learning environments. This conversation will delve into how music and the arts can drive meaningful change in educational settings, including a variety of research topics, related to equity, identity, and care-centered approaches to learning.
Panelists include Kevin Merkley, an accomplished music educator and advocate for arts education policy, who will share insights from his experience as a middle school principal and curriculum developer. Taylor Kurta, artist, scholar and PhD candidate, offers interdisciplinary perspective from her work bridging music, health, and research. Toronto District School Board High School Student Nuwaylah Nughaimesh joins to provide a critical youth voice on this panel.
Together, these experts will highlight innovative practices, spark collaboration, and inspire actionable ideas for integrating music into education to support mental wellness and foster inclusive, thriving communities.
Moderator - Cynthia Lȇ
Cynthia Lê (She/her) is a musician and educator, and has recently completed her Master of Education in Policy and Analysis with a concentration in Identity, Power, and Justice at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her experiences as a visible minority in predominantly white institutions have shaped her view of race and intersecting identities, and informed her of what equity and community can look like in an educational context. Her research and work explores equitable and anti-oppressive policy in higher education and music admissions practises. She is drawn to spaces that centre the arts, community building, and student engagement. Cynthia is committed to grounding her educational engagements in co-creation, cultivating environments that promote self-love, and holding “care” as a uniting core value. Cynthia Lê also will share her work on equity and community in educational contexts through critical lenses of arts and care.
Kevin has served on the Board of Directors OMEA as President, Regional Workshops, and Membership Director. Kevin now serves the OMEA board as Membership Director, is Past President of the Arts Education Consultants of Ontario (ARTSECO) and is a former Chair of the ETFO Arts Committee. Kevin also serves as Secretary of Musicfest Canada and is the Co-Chair of York Region’s Equity Strategy Steering and Action Committee (ESSAC). He is currently the proud Principal of Ellen Fairclough Public School in York region.
Nuwaylah Nughaimesh is a Grade 11 student at Sir Oliver Mowat Collegiate Institute, enrolled in the Performing Arts Honours Program. After immigrating to Canada in 2022, she quickly became a leader within her school community, running major clubs and councils such as the Music Council and Student Council. A passionate violinist, Nuwaylah serves as the concertmaster of the Senior String Orchestra and Performing Honours Orchestra while actively mentoring beginner musicians in the Junior String Orchestra. She also participates in her school’s Band and Choir and performs with UTSC’s String Orchestra and the Oscar Peterson Orchestra at the Royal Conservatory of Music. Nuwaylah combines her love for music with a dedication to teaching, striving to inspire the next generation of musicians through her work in school and community programs. Her career aspirations lie in music education, driven by her commitment to equitable and inclusive learning in public schools. In her free time, she enjoys walking along the waterfront and exploring ways to merge music, education, and community building.
Taylor Kurta is an award-winning singer-songwriter, music therapist, and PhD candidate at the University of Waterloo in the Aging, Health, and Well-being program. At a young age, Taylor’s success in the music industry paved the way for her academic career. In 2011, Taylor received a Canadian FACTOR grant to produce her first EP. Shortly after, in 2013, she won the inaugural Canada’s Walk of Fame RBC Emerging Artist Mentorship Prize, which provided her with national recognition. This achievement helped her gain admission to Wilfrid Laurier University as the first non-classically trained student in the undergraduate music therapy program—paving the way for other students without formal music training to enter the program. Following her undergraduate studies, Taylor earned a Master of Arts in Music and Health Sciences at the University of Toronto. During this time, she worked as a music therapist at Kensington Gardens, a long-term care home in Toronto, where she developed an in-home music therapy studio. This space supported residents and their families in creating and recording music, fostering deeper connections through shared musical experiences. Fusing her passion for music with a drive to change the way society treats and cares for older adults, Taylor’s doctoral research focuses on collaborative songwriting with people living with dementia to challenge stigma. Her work has been recognized through numerous awards and scholarships, including a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Doctoral Fellowship, the Saint Elizabeth Research Centre Graduate Student Award, and the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging Scholarship. She has been invited to present her research at national and international conferences, sharing her insights on the intersection of music, dementia care, and social justice. Through her interdisciplinary work, Taylor continues to bridge the worlds of music, health, and research, advocating for more inclusive and socially just approaches to dementia care.
Panel 2 - Community;
Harmony in Action: Community Music for Mental Wellness
(11:05am-12:20pm)
Join this dynamic panel exploring how community-driven music programs support mental health and resilience. Moderated by Suzanne Sicchia, Associate Professor in Health & Society at the University of Toronto, this session focuses on inclusive approaches to music as a tool for social change and mental well-being.
Shawn Earle, CEO of Sistema Toronto, will discuss how their innovative programming empowers youth in underserved communities, fostering leadership and connection. Joyce Silva Desmond offers a vital youth perspective to the conversation, based on her engagement in community music programs, and Dr. Erin Parkes from the Lotus Centre will share insights into their work supporting marginalized groups and individuals with exceptionalities through music education.
This conversation will highlight the transformative power of community-based music initiatives in addressing systemic inequities and promoting wellness. Attendees will gain practical strategies and inspiration for leveraging music to create inclusive, supportive spaces that nurture personal growth and community engagement.
Moderator - Suzanne Sicchia
Professor Suzanne Sicchia is an award winning Associate Professor Teaching Stream in the Department of Health & Society, and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. She also serves as the Associate Dean Undergraduate Programs & Curriculum (ADUPC), for the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus. She has a PhD in Medical Science, a MHSc in health promotion, and a MSc in social theory and health from the former Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. Before joining UTSC, she worked as a Research Associate in the ‘Global Health’ and ‘Violence and Health’ units of the former Centre for Research in Women’s Health, WHO/PAHO Collaborative Centre in Women’s Health. During this time, she worked extensively on the joint CIHR/NIH Globalization Gender & Health: Research-Policy initiative. Project partners included the NIH Office for Research in Women’s Health, Fogarty International Centre, and the Institute for Aboriginal Peoples’ Health and the Institute for Gender & Health, at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. More recently she has served as an external reviewer on global health governance-related grants for the CIHR, SSHRC, and IDRC. Suzanne also founded the UTSC International Health Film Series & Expo, and the UTSC Critical Book Club. Her interests include critical public health, global health governance, community-based participatory research, social theory and health, structural violence, and critical pedagogies.
Shawn Earle enjoys an active career as an administrator, performer, and educator. Currently Dr. Earle is the CEO of Sistema Toronto and has also enjoyed community engagement and innovating creative projects as the Education and Outreach Manager, and Director of Artistic Operations for the Regina Symphony Orchestra.
As a clarinetist he has performed throughout Canada, the USA, Europe, and Australia as a chamber musician and enjoyed collaborations with notable ensembles including the Ecosono Ensemble (he is featured on two recordings, Glacier Music and The Ceiling Floats Away), Albemarle Ensemble, Aventa Ensemble, Novo Ensemble, Cascadia Reed Quintet, and the Lafayette String Quartet. Dr. Earle was a founding member of the Vancouver Clarinet Trio, Trio Dolce, and Farally Ensemble. As an orchestral musician, Dr. Earle has performed with the Charlottesville Symphony, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Okanagan Symphony, Victoria Symphony, Vancouver Island Symphony, Regina Symphony Orchestra, and Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra.
Since completing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree examining contemporary Canadian clarinet music at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Earle has performed solo concerts of Canadian clarinet works throughout Canada and the USA. This research has also inspired the development and solo performances of clarinet works influenced by non-Western cultures. Dr. Earle is dedicated to contemporary Canadian clarinet music, while also enjoying traditional repertoire. He also holds a Master’s degree from the University of Victoria, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Music from Acadia University.
Dr. Earle is committed to music education having been Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia, Lecturer at University of Regina, Washington and Lee University, Clarinet Instructor at the University of Victoria, a high school Band Director, delivering numerous masterclasses, clarinet instructor at the El Sistema-inspired Saint James Music Academy, and maintaining a private studio.
Dr. Erin Parkes holds a Ph.D. in music education from McGill University, where she researched the effect of training in preparing studio music teachers to work with students with autism. In 2012, Dr. Parkes founded Lotus Centre for Special Music Education (www.lotuscentre.net), a charitable organization committed to providing access to music education for people with exceptionalities. Recently, she launched the Lotus Centre Institute for Professional Development (www.institute.lotuscentre.net) in order to provide music educators with the skills and tools they need to help students with exceptionalities reach their full potential. In addition to her role at Lotus Centre, Dr. Parkes is an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa, teaching courses and mentoring students in special music education. Dr. Parkes presents at conferences and guest lectures internationally on teaching music to students with exceptionalities and other issues in music education.
Dr. Parkes’ work combines research and practice in an effort to address issues in accessibility to music education from multiple perspectives. Recent projects include the development of a framework for engagement with the orchestra for people with disabilities through the Music Circle project in collaboration with the National Arts Centre Orchestra (www.nac-cna.ca/musiccircle); exploring the potential of singing lessons to improve processing of pitch and rhythm in children with auditory processing disorder; and spearheading a biennial conference in special music education for studio music teachers. Other interests include trauma-informed music teaching, empathy-based approaches to music education for students with behavior disorders and exploring multimodal teaching methodologies for neurodiverse populations.
Joyce Silva Desmond is a multidisciplinary artist and University of Toronto Scarborough alumna passionate about the intersection of education and artistry. With a deep belief in art as a form of resistance and a tool for social change, Joyce explores music as a means of empowerment and connection. A recent graduate of TAIBU’s DJ program, she is committed to creating inclusive, transformative spaces where music fosters healing and resilience. Through her work, Joyce continues to advocate for the revolutionary capabilities of art in shaping community and mental well-being.
Panel 3 - Industry;
Creative Approaches to Mental Health: Music, Art, and Healing
(2:45-4:00pm)
Discover how music and other creative approaches can revolutionize mental health care and emotional well-being in this thought-provoking panel moderated by Tim Lee, a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and music therapist. Panelists include Amanda Uliaszek, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, who will share insights from her research on emotion regulation, personality pathology, and her work advancing dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents and university students. Joining her is Dr. Janet Parsons, a critical social scientist whose groundbreaking work integrates arts-based research methods—like film, photography, and storytelling—to explore mental health, chronic illness, and social equity. Nordia Richards also joins, bringing her expertise and experience as a clinical social worker working with TAIBU Community Health Centre. TAIBU offers Black-identifying clients from throughout the Greater Toronto Area access to primary care, health promotion and disease prevention programs in a culturally affirming environment.
Together, these experts will delve into how creative modalities such as music, visual arts, and narrative can empower individuals to navigate challenges, foster resilience, and reimagine mental health interventions. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how these interdisciplinary approaches can support diverse populations and inspire innovative pathways for care and community connection.
Moderator - Tim Lee
Tim is a Toronto-based music therapist and Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with a master’s degree in music therapy from Wilfrid Laurier University. He also holds an associate degree in Piano from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Tim brings his expertise to various settings across Toronto, including Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, The Music Therapy Centre, and The Church and Wellesley Counselling and Psychotherapy Clinic. Beyond his clinical work, Tim contributes to VIVA Singers Toronto as a teaching assistant, accompanist, and inclusion coordinator.
With a deep passion for music, Tim is dedicated to harnessing its transformative power as a catalyst for personal growth and positive change.
Amanda A. Uliaszek, Ph.D., C.Psych. (Associate Professor and Program Coordinator, Graduate Department of Psychological Clinical Science), is a clinical psychologist with a research program exploring transdiagnostic factors related to personality pathology and emotion dysregulation; this includes an examination of structural models, etiological factors, and prognostic indicators. This program of study extends to dialectical behavior therapy, with a specific focus on understanding and improving treatments for adolescents and university students. Dr. Uliaszek’s current research more broadly prioritizes psychotherapy mechanisms, outcomes, program improvement and evaluation, as well as barriers to treatment implementation, in a variety of hospital, community, and residential treatment settings.
Dr. Janet Parsons (PhD, MSc, BScPT, BA) is a critical social scientist, qualitative methodologist and health services researcher with expertise in arts-based research and knowledge mobilization, health and social equity, as well as community-based participatory approaches. She specializes in the development and application of arts-based visual and narrative methodologies to a wide range of research topics, including mental health and young people’s experiences of managing chronic illness. Her research program operates at the intersection of the health sciences, social sciences and the arts. She has employed film, photography, drawing and storytelling in her work. Dr. Parsons is an Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy and the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, where she leads the Creative Collaboratory for Research, Education and Practice.
My name is Nordia Richards and I am an Enhanced Youth Outreach Worker at TAIBU Community Health Center. I specialize in supporting Black youth and their families navigating complex challenges, including mental health concerns, addiction, trauma, relationship violence, and involvement in the criminal justice system. My work focuses on addressing specific incidents and risk factors that may lead to conflict, such as those with school officials, peers, family, and/or the law. Through one-on-one counseling, I support Black youth in identifying their needs, goals, aspirations, and abilities. I also work to remove barriers to accessing services, including employment, peer support, and skill development programs.
Additionally, I collaborate with caregivers, family members and the various social systems youth navigate in support of their needs including school and immigration. Maintaining collaborative working relationships with other professional within and outside of the organization through advocacy and resource sharing which ensure youth have access to services and opportunities needed for healthy development.
My professional journey began in 2018 when I earned a Diploma in Social Service Work from Centennial College. I continued my studies at Toronto Metropolitan University, earning both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work with a Minor in Politics. During this time, I gained valuable experience at the Working Women Community Centre, where I participated in the community development strategy Action for Neighbourhood Change (ANC). There, I supported communities in need by facilitating capacity-building and group development sessions to foster inclusivity and strengthen community identity.
I also deepened my knowledge at WomenatthecentrE, a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating gender-based violence against women, women-identified individuals, genderqueer, trans-identified, and 2-Spirit people. I worked directly with survivors who participated in a peer-based counseling program.
I am passionate about working with Black youth because I believe they are often overlooked and misunderstood. My goal is to create a space where they feel heard and not judged. I also advocate for their needs in any capacity required.
I enjoy dancing and listening to music. I believe music is a universal language that speaks to all of us in different ways. It is a healing tool that allows me to express my emotions and connects me to people from all walks of life. Music is therapeutic and transcendent. Dancing helps me feel grounded as I connect to the rhythm and sounds, and its healing nature brings joy to my soul.
