Elizabethtown College has appointed Emily Frantz, MMT, MT-BC as the new Director of Music Therapy.
“I am so honored to share a career I love with others and see how they make it theirs,” Frantz said. “It is wonderful being afforded the opportunity to investigate this strong, exceptional Music Therapy program with fresh, curious eyes.”
Frantz, who also serves as an Applied Music Oboe Instructor at the College, had previously served as Interim Director of Music Therapy, long-time adjunct instructor, and clinical supervisor. A music therapy and oboe performance graduate from Temple University, Frantz first joined the Etown faculty in 1999 as a clinical supervisor.
She has delivered presentations for the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), and the Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association on the use of music with troubled youth, supervision, self-care, self-awareness, and music and imagery.
“Music Therapy is central to the mission and heritage of our College,” Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities at Elizabethtown College Kevin Shorner-Johnson remarked. “It is a practice of care that comes from our heritage of peace, presence, and relationship. Professor Frantz is a talented, collaborative leader. She offers gifts to the development of clinical skills and a vision of how music therapy might hold space for diversity, equity, and belonging.”
Etown’s Music Therapy program offers one of the richest geographic locations with regard to access to a diversity of clinical sites. Frantz leads this robust approach to clinical opportunities, allowing students to succeed in their internships and as professionals in the field.
“I look forward to building additional community partnerships as our clinical training continues to expand to meet the needs of our students,” Frantz said. “We are beyond fortunate to have such a strong community of music therapists, including many alumni, in the Elizabethtown area,” Frantz said. “Our clinical sites provide a rich learning environment through different settings, clients, and supervisors.”
Director of Music Therapy Emily Frantz with Etown Music Therapy Adjunct Professors
Etown students work alongside professional music therapists (MT-BC) in the College’s on-campus clinic as well as off-campus sites such as Masonic Village, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, and local schools. The program has also recently begun partnerships with alumni at Living Unlimited and WB Music Therapy. Each practicum is supervised by an adjunct faculty with an average of 20 years of music therapy experience.
The Music Therapy major at Etown was established in 1975. Frantz is the eighth program director replacing Professor of Music and Director of Music Therapy, Gene Ann Behrens, who retired in spring 2022. Under Dr. Behren’s distinguished leadership, the Etown Music Therapy program reached new levels of success in research and clinical practice.
“I look forward to continuing to build from the legacy of our Music Therapy program as we look for new avenues to enrich clinical experiences and professional practice,” Frantz remarked.
About the Etown Music Therapy
Interested in studying Music Therapy at Elizabethtown College? Students within the School of Arts and Humanities Department of Music enjoy courses from a robust staff of six full-time and 17 adjunct professors who provide a comprehensive, personalized education rooted in neuroscience and research, which helps prepare them to work in a wide range of health care settings. Learn more.