IMNF to Host Music Has Power Symposium in NYC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 22, 2024

Contact: Rose Cappa Rotunno | (914) 513-5179

IMNF to Host Music Has Power Symposium in NYC on Wednesday, November 20


Mount Vernon, NY- The Institute for Music and Neurologic Function will be hosting a conference on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at the Times Center in New York City. The IMNF's groundbreaking and internationally recognized research, education, and training programs use music therapy to assist the "awakening and healing" of individuals with a wide range of neurological conditions including strokes, trauma, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.

 

While music activities may be present in most care settings, these activities don’t provide the therapeutic benefits that are possible with music therapy-informed interventions and programs. Best practices from music therapy are transforming dementia care and have the potential to improve healthcare – and health – for older people, whatever their needs, wherever they receive care.

 

The Music Has Power Symposium will offer insights on music and brain health as well as best practices from Music Therapy. This Symposium entitled "Music, Brain Health and Music-Based Interventions in Senior Wellness and Healthcare" is approved for 3 Continuing Music Therapy Education (CMTE) credits by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT), as well as credits for New York Therapeutic Recreation and NAB credits for Long Term Care Administrators. Please check out the attached link or go to the webpage to learn more.

 

From its inception, the IMNF has brought together neuroscientists, clinicians and innovators to promote greater understanding of music-based interventions in healthcare and wellness. This symposium brings back this tradition and will become an annual offering of the IMNF going forward.

 

Celebrating Achievements during the evening awards ceremony, we will honor two distinguished figures in the field of music and brain health. Edward Large, a leader in neuroscience, and Greg Barnhill, an accomplished composer and musician, will be recognized for their significant contributions to the field of music and brain health.

 

Edward Large is a leader in neuroscience and focuses on how the brain processes rhythm and music. His research helps explain how rhythm-based music therapy benefits those with neurological conditions like Parkinson's and stroke. Greg Barnhill’s work spans decades. Greg will bring his unique blend of music that has touched the hearts of many around the world. Known for his soulful songwriting, he advocates for music's therapeutic power in improving brain health.


Engaging and Educational - The daytime symposium will delve into current innovations and research in music therapy, neuroscience, and senior healthcare. Engage with thought leaders during dynamic discussions and connect with peers in an environment dedicated to advancing brain health and well-being through music.

 

Event Details:

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Symposium: 12:00 PM – 5:15 PM

Awards Ceremony: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

 

The link to learn more: Explore the Transformative Power of Music at the Music Has Power® Symposium and Awards Ceremony (imnf.org)


Sponsors include: Gibson Gives, Leading Age, Inner Wave


IMNF has received support from a variety of sources, including individuals, corporations, and foundations that recognize the value of music therapy and neurological research. Some of the well-known supporters and sponsors over the years have included Sting, The ASCAP Foundation, The Grammy Foundation, Moby, Mickey Hart and Musicians On Call.


The institute continues to grow in prominence as music therapy gains recognition as an effective treatment for neurological conditions.


About IMNF: The IMNF is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. Founded in 1995, the IMNF is driven by over 35 years of clinical observations on the actual effects of music on individuals who have different types of physical and neurological disorders. Directed by renowned music therapist Dr. Concetta M. Tomaino, the IMNF conducts research on the relationship between music and the brain, provides patients with music therapy, and offers our professional peers around the world the latest music therapy education and training information about best practices. Through the scientific exploration of music and the brain, the IMNF seeks to establish new knowledge and to develop more effective music therapy treatments to awaken, stimulate and heal through the extraordinary power of music. 

Andre De Shields, Honoree at MHP 2023
Greg Barnhill
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October 24, 2025
NYU’s Dr. Pablo Ripollés joins the Music Has Power® Symposium to examine how music engages reward and memory systems - and how these mechanisms translate to health and well-being.
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On November 8, IMNF’s Dr. Tomaino joins WMI’s “Sacred Sounds of Healing” panel, examining how evidence and tradition inform sound’s impact on health. Free registration.
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On Oct 9, 2025, IMNF’s Executive Director presents evidence-informed approaches to music therapy at UCES’s “Music & Movement” Biennial in Buenos Aires.
September 25, 2025
Mount Vernon, NY – Sept. 16, 2025 – Institute for Music and Neurologic today announced that Fierce Life Sciences and Fierce Healthcare have named Dr. Concetta Tomaino as one of 2025’s Fierce 50 honorees. The Fierce 50 showcases 50 individuals and companies driving advancements in medicine, fostering innovation and shaping the future of biopharma and healthcare. "The Fierce 50 of 2025 is about shining a light on the people and organizations who are genuinely making a difference in pharma, biotech and healthcare," said Ayla Ellison, Editor-in-Chief of Fierce Life Sciences and Healthcare. "These honorees are tackling some of the toughest challenges in medicine, and they're doing it with real ingenuity and heart. They're the ones developing new treatments, building companies that work better for everyone, and never losing sight of the fact that behind every breakthrough is someone's life getting better. We're proud to celebrate their work." Dr. Tomaino is a world renown music therapist and researcher who co-founded the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF) in 1995 to open dialogues across the disciplines of neuroscience and music therapy to advance knowledge about music and the brain and to create efficacious music-based interventions to help people with various brain related health issues. “It is truly an honor to be recognized by Fierce along with the other outstanding awardees. This year IMNF is celebrating its 30th anniversary. It is wonderful to celebrate our accomplishments in this way.” Dr. Tomaino Chosen by the editors of Fierce Biotech, Fierce Pharma and Fierce Healthcare, this year’s Fierce 50 honorees reflect the breadth of talent and vision shaping the life sciences and healthcare industries today. From startups to established organizations, each has made a distinct contribution, whether by advancing scientific discovery, improving the health of communities, expanding access to care, or reimagining how healthcare is delivered at a local level or on a global scale. The Fierce 50 honorees will be celebrated live at an evening gala at the Lighthouse at Pier 61 in New York on November 20th. For more information visit https://fierce50.fiercelifesciences.com/ . About Institute for Music and Neurologic Function Founded in 1995 by Concetta M. Tomaino, DA, LCAT, MT-BC, Oliver Sacks, MD and others, the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF) is an internationally recognized non-profit agency advancing knowledge about music and the brain and offering groundbreaking music therapy programs to restore, maintain, and improve patients’ physical, emotional, and neurological function through the methodical use of music. About Questex Questex helps people live better and longer. Questex brings people together in the markets that help people live better: travel, hospitality and wellness; the industries that help people live longer: life science and healthcare; and the technologies that enable and fuel these new experiences. We live in the experience economy – connecting our ecosystem through live events, surrounded by data insights and digital communities. We deliver experience and real results. It happens here.
September 1, 2025
On Thursday, September 4, 2025, Dr. Concetta Tomaino will present to the Adult Support Group of the Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado & Wyoming’s Circle of Friends program. Her talk will focus on the healing power of music and its role in supporting individuals and families living with epilepsy. Learn more about the Circle of Friends support groups here.
August 11, 2025
IMNF Executive Director Dr. Concetta Tomaino will present “Music and the Brain” at the Project Lifesaver 2025 Annual Conference, sharing how music impacts cognitive, physical, and emotional function for those living with neurological challenges.
July 31, 2025
IMNF’s Director of Programming, Justin Russo, joins Shaping the Future of Aging to discuss how personalized music can support cognitive and emotional well-being in dementia care and other neurologic conditions.
July 29, 2025
Maejor will be honored at the 2025 Music Has Power® Awards for his visionary work at the intersection of music, healing, and innovation. Join us in celebrating his global impact and commitment to advancing the therapeutic potential of sound.
July 28, 2025
Celebrating three decades of music-driven healing, research, and education, the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function marks 30 years of transforming lives through therapeutic music.