2017 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

Press Release

Announcing AMTA 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

Each year, the American Music Therapy Association Board of Directors honors two long-time members with the Lifetime Achievement Award.  The Board is delighted to announce the 2017 recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award: Linda Bosse and Dr. Deforia Lane.

Over the past 45 years, Ms. Bosse has worked tirelessly to advocate for music therapy; to train and educate music therapists; and to provide high quality care to patients and clients. Her long volunteer service to the profession began on the NAMT Constitutional Review Committee in 1974. She served other committees and as Chair of the Ethics Board, and Chair of the Awards Committee. Her service on the Assembly of Delegates totals 38 years. After “retiring,” she was appointed to serve as Parliamentarian to the Assembly where she continues to serve. Linda's exemplary service to our profession is equally matched by the loyalty and integrity with which she interacts with all her colleagues.

For decades, Dr. Deforia Lane has acted as an unofficial spokesperson for the music therapy profession. Her eloquent and articulate interviews can be seen on news channels and Tedx. Most recently, she represented music therapy at the “Sound Health: Music and the Mind” event at the Kennedy Center. She started the program at University Hospitals Case Medical Center 33 years ago and has trained numerous music therapy interns. She served as a consultant to the Mayo Cinic, the National Department on Aging and the National Endowment of the Arts. We acknowledge her contributions and recognize her as a dedicated professional that so beautifully represents our profession, with inspiration and grace.

Join us in congratulating them at the Opening Session in St. Louis, Missouri at the 2017 AMTA Annual Conference “A Mindful Approach to Music Therapy.”

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