Our Team
Katie Fortino, MME, MT-BC
Co-Founder
Katie Fortino completed her masters in music therapy at the University of Kansas. She developed the music therapy program at the Center for Excellence in Disabilities at West Virginia University.
She has experience with a variety of populations including: early childhood, individuals with autism and other special needs, emotional and behavioral disorders, pediatrics, traumatic brain injury and rehabilitation, and hospice.
Her supervision experience includes undergraduate and graduate practicum students and interns, as well as professionals working in a variety of settings. Katie has also trained and mentored professionals in other fields to develop and facilitate music experiences for functional outcomes.
Katie is motivated by advocating for music therapy services and is passionate about empowering music therapists to feel successful in the work they do for others.
Candace Szymanski received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education at Millikin University and her Master’s degree in Music Therapy at Texas Woman’s University. She currently works as a music therapist in a pediatric hospital, covering: pulmonary, gastrointestinal, pediatric intensive care unit, and eating disorders unit.
She has clinical experience with a wide variety of populations, including: pediatrics, emotional and behavioral disorders, early childhood, children and adolescents with autism and other special needs, elderly care, and bereavement.
Candace has supervised practicum students and interns, both on the medical floors and within the psychiatric units. She has presented at various universities throughout north Texas, educating and advocating for music therapy services in the community. She is passionate about using music therapy in acute medical care and bereavement settings and is looking forward to supporting music therapy students and professionals through materials and supervision!
Haley Shinn, MM, MT-BC
Co-founder
Haley Shinn currently works for a private practice in Central Missouri. She completed her masters at Colorado State University while working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. Prior to graduate school, she worked in West Virginia for three years and played an integral role in the program development of a private practice, school-based IEP services, school-based programmatic services, and community programs.
She has clinical experience with a wide variety of populations, including: early childhood, children and adolescents with autism and other special needs, emotional and behavioral disorders, stroke and rehabilitation, and elder care.
Her supervision experience includes practicum students at Colorado State University and West Virginia University and students attending the Jamaica Field Service Project study abroad trip. She has also mentored music therapy colleagues in program development and clinical skills as well as trained other professionals on how to incorporate music into their practices.
She is passionate about increasing access to services, loves the challenges and outcomes from program development, and is excited to connect with music therapists to help them stay confident and creative in their service delivery.
