Our Incredible Moved by Music Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
President & Founder
Pamela Jackson MM, MTBC, NMT
Pamela embarked on a remarkable journey, dedicating the first half of her life to raising five children while simultaneously pursuing her passion for music as part of a professional duo with her husband, Paul Sadler III. Despite her busy life, Pamela didn't let her dreams of higher education fade. At the age of 52, she achieved her degree in Music Therapy. In 2006, Pamela established Moved by Music, facing the challenges of a nascent industry where finding clients and receiving compensation for her work proved arduous. Undeterred, Pamela, alongside a small group of Music Therapists in Colorado, tirelessly advocated for the recognition and legitimacy of Music Therapy. Their efforts bore fruit as the profession gradually gained recognition, allowing young therapists to sustain themselves in the field. In 2015, Pamela's vision expanded as she began hiring therapists, transforming Moved by Music into the preeminent Music Therapy company in Colorado. This growth was fueled by Pamela's unwavering commitment to serving every client, regardless of distance or complexity, cementing her legacy as a pioneer in the field of Music Therapy. After over two decades of dedicated service, Pamela has transitioned into a well-deserved semi-retirement phase, though her nurturing gaze still oversees the thriving company. Under the skillful leadership of her daughter, Sarah Perez Sadler alongside her son Jonathan Michael Sadler and her longtime college roommate, Joanna Ostrander Moved by Music continues to thrive.
Administrative Manager & Vice President
Sarah Perez Sadler
Sarah is a committed mother of two children with a background in early childhood education, holding a degree in the field. With a solid foundation of six years' experience teaching kindergarten and first grade, both in Colorado and Spain, she has demonstrated expertise in nurturing young minds. Sarah's tenure teaching in Spain was instrumental in achieving fluency in Spanish.
Transitioning from her role in education, in 2017, Sarah embarked on a collaborative journey with her mother, Pamela Jackson, contributing to the sustained growth and impact of Moved by Music. As Pamela transitions into retirement, Sarah is dedicated to leading Moved by Music, ensuring the ongoing recruitment of exceptional therapists and the delivery of top-tier music therapy services to clients all over Colorado.
Sarah holds a deep appreciation for the clients, families and therapists she collaborates with through Moved by Music. She considers herself fortunate to be a member of such an exceptional team that significantly enhances the lives of people on a daily basis.
Executive Assisstant
Jonathan Sadler
Jonathan is a lifelong musician, dedicated father of two young men, a proud dog owner, and has a diverse history of work outside of music education, performance, production, live audio engineering and recording, including construction and deconstruction, remodeling, property maintenance, website management, food service, landscaping, yoga instruction and massage therapy. Jonathan has been with Moved by Music since 2015. In his own words "Being able to be a part of this incredible team of therapists and administrators to help bring music therapy to hundreds of people across Colorado is an honor and I am so grateful to be part of this team!"
Head Therapist & Admin Assistant
Joanna Ostrander MM, MTBC, NMT
Joanna has been a Board Certified Music Therapist since 2007, with experience in a plethora of settings including caring for individuals with physical difficulties and injury, those on the autism spectrum, those with emotional and psychiatric diagnoses, as well as neurotypical children and adults. She has worked in schools, group homes, psychiatric hospitals, as well as community based settings. Joanna attended Colorado State University where she studied Neurologic Music Therapy. Joanna sees music as an “in-cognito” form of therapy, as it does it’s work on the brain with or without the awareness of the participant, as each individual's brain is affected and changed as it interacts with music.
Music Therapist - Colorado Springs
Becky Conwell, MTBC
Becky is a fun and energetic music therapist. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy degree from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. She has been practicing music therapy with Moved by Music in the Colorado Springs area since 2016, primarily among children and adults with developmental disabilities and/or neurologic disorders. In 2019, she acquired the Neurologic Music Therapy accreditation which she has maintained ever since. She enjoys hiking, crafting, and is heavily involved in her church's children's and young adult ministries.
Music Therapist - Colorado Springs
Megumi Kajigaya, MM, MTBC
Megumi earned her master’s equivalency in music therapy from Colorado State University in 2013. After completing her 6-month music therapy internship at an adult psychiatric hospital, she became a board certified music therapist in 2014. She specializes in working with children and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders. She believes that music is a universal language, and finds joy in providing opportunities of self-expression and connecting to people through music. As a therapist, she values creating a supportive and encouraging environment while helping her clients achieve goals. Getting to know her wonderful clients and seeing them learn and grow are the most rewarding parts of being a music therapist at Moved by Music.
Music Therapist - Colorado Springs
Lily Hsu, MTBC
Liy is a board-certified music therapist with a wide range of experiences working with children, adolescents, and adults. Lily received her BA in Music Therapy at Florida Gulf Coast University and is currently completing her Masters in Music Therapy at Colorado State University. She uses an eclectic music therapy approach to address individuals with varying needs/diagnoses. Lily focuses on building strong therapeutic relationships and rapport which celebrates the person's strengths in order to reach their goals. Her favorite aspect of working in music therapy is when the individual is able to discover tools that empower them to continue music making outside of the session.
Music Therapist - Colorado Springs
Rajahna Wanick, MM, MTBC, NMT
Rajahna is a dedicated and passionate Music Therapist who joined the Moved by Music team in June, 2022. Rajahna received her Masters in Music Therapy from Illinois State University and became a Board Certified Music Therapist in January, 2021. Not only does Rajahna have experience working with children, teens, and young adults, but she also has a background working in memory care and hospice care with older adults. Rajahna enjoys incorporating a variety of instruments, movement, and art in her Music Therapy visits. When Rajahna is not serving clients in the community, she enjoys spending time with her family and finding new hiking trails to explore.
Music Therapist - Colorado Springs
Grace Nowak, MEd, MTBC, NMT
Grace joined the Moved by Music team in 2023 to provide services in Colorado Springs and surrounding areas. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, she graduated from Mercyhurst University in 2017 with her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy with a piano concentration and minor in Psychology. She became a Board Certified Music Therapist and completed her training in Neurologic Music Therapy in 2018. In 2019 she graduated from the Master of Education in Early Intervention with Autism Specialization program at the University of Pittsburgh, where she also studied Applied Behavior Analysis. She completed the advanced Neurologic Music Therapy fellowship training in 2021. Grace has had experience with a wide range of ages and populations throughout her career. She specializes in early childhood and she is passionate about working with adolescents and adults as well. Her holistic approach to therapy includes her science-based background combined with being client and family centered. Grace's favorite part about being a music therapist is providing her clients with a safe space for self-expression and using the universal language of music as a tool for connection.
Music Therapist - Colorado Springs
Cassie Lewis (they/them) MTBC
Cassie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University in 2019, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy degree from University of the Incarnate Word in 2023, and became a Board Certified Music Therapy shortly after. Through their experiences, Cassie has worked with children, teens, and adults with varying diagnoses and needs of support including Autistic persons, those with neurologic disorders, mental health needs, and LGBQT+ youth. They approach each client with unconditional respect and positive regard, and draw from an eclectic array of techniques to best support each client individually. Cassie strives to empower their clients through exploration, self-expression, and build connection through shared experiences.
Music Therapist - Colorado Springs
Emi Takagi Stapler, MA, MTBC
Emi joined the Moved By Music team in 2024 after traveling across North America for two decades as a military spouse. She earned her B.A. in Music from the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY, then became a Board Certified Music Therapist after completing her M.A. in Music Therapy at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA in 2007. She believes that every individual is best able to make progress toward their unique potential by fostering a safe, inclusive and encouraging atmosphere, structured to help them feel autonomy and success. Her professional focus has predominantly been on children and young adult populations with a wide range of diagnoses and support needs, however, she has also worked in adult psychiatric settings. In her personal life, Emi enjoys quality time with her four children, spouse, and pets. She also channels her creativity as a longarm quilter and pattern designer.
Music Therapist - Colorado Springs
Samantha Lira, MTBC
Sam earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy degree from University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas in 2023. She has been an advocate for music therapy since 2018, often spreading awareness for music therapy any chance she can get. She has experience in working with Autistic persons and other neurologic diagnoses ranging from children to adults. Sam is fluent in both English and Spanish, and works with clients who speak either one or both languages. She enjoys working with clients of all backgrounds and learning new ways to better support each individual. She approaches each client with respect and authenticity and often pulls from a variety of creative outlets, such as games and art. Sam believes in providing each client with a safe space to allow for a fun and productive session as well as to build a strong rapport between client and therapist.
Music Therapist - Colorado Springs
Brigitte Benson, MTBC
"Brigitte graduated with a B.M. in Music Therapy from Colorado State University and earned her MT-BC (music therapist, board certified) credential in July of 2024. Brigitte is passionate and excited about the world of music therapy, as she loves utilizing the many aspects of music to reach a wide variety of people and populations. Brigitte practices a holistic and humanistic approach, prioritizing building trust and understanding of the whole person, while also focusing on the brain and cognitive components of music processing. Alongside music therapy, Brigitte is a gigging musician throughout the Northern and Southern Colorado areas. Ranging from playing trumpet and singing in her jazz trio to playing in restaurants and coffee shops as a singer/songwriter, Brigitte has a deep passion for music performance. In her non-musical time, Brigitte loves hiking and adventuring in the mountains, and spending time with her people."
Music Therapist - Denver
Marissa Jones, MTBC
Marissa Jones is a board-certified music therapist who started working with Moved by Music in August of 2022. She received her bachelor's degree in music therapy from the University of Alabama. Marissa especially enjoys working with young children, but also has a special place in her heart for older clients. Marissa believes that music therapy is a space where children can learn about their innate value and have fun along the way. She loves getting to see the unique perspectives and strengths that each client brings to music therapy sessions.
Music Therapist - Denver
Melodie Madison, MM, MTBC
Melodie completed her Master’s degree in Music Therapy at Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA. Melodie is a trained Classical guitarist and has performed in ensembles and recitals. Melodie is a multi-instrumentalist (i.e., piano, harmonica, ukulele, bass, djembe, and drums). She is also a trained neurologic music therapist. During her undergrad’ and graduate program, Melodie used music therapy techniques and methods to facilitate individual and group sessions addressing communication, gait, quality of life, mental health, pain management, and cognition with participants of all ages. Melodie has enjoyed working with Moved by Music, a private practice, since December 2022. She works with both children and adults. She facilitates a group at the Rocky Mountain Stroke Center, called Brain Fit. Melodie facilitates another group with the Parkinson’s Association of the Rockies called Tremble Clefs. She is based in the Denver area and its surroundings. Melodie speaks fluent French and is currently learning Spanish and Italian. She enjoys meeting an and connecting with individuals from all around the world.
Music Therapist - Denver
Melissa Madell, MA, MTBC
Melissa has been practicing as a music therapist for 4 years. She received a bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 2017 and went on to graduate with a master’s degree in Music Therapy at New York University in 2019. Melissa approaches her work as a music therapist viewing each of her clients as a whole person, not just a diagnosis. She meets her clients where they are in the moment and works through music to achieve established goals. Melissa has experience working in geriatrics, hospice, sub-acute rehab, inpatient psychiatric care, and inpatient detox care. As a new Colorado resident, Melissa enjoys spending her free time exploring Colorado and hiking with her husband and dog, Darcy.
Music Therapist - Denver
Caroline Vickstrom, MA, MTBC
Caroline is a dedicated and versatile music therapist. Graduating with a M.M. in Music Therapy from Colorado State University, she became a Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC) in January of 2024. She has experience with a wide range of populations, from pediatric to geriatric music therapy settings, and holds a NICU-MT certification. Previously, Caroline earned dual bachelor degrees in Voice Performance and Choral Music Education from the University of Colorado and worked in a variety of youth education settings from teaching choirs and musical theatre to leading international exchange trips and youth leadership camps. Based in Denver, Caroline practices a holistic approach to therapy paired with her passion for music cognition and neuroscience. She believes in using music as a tool for connection and exploration of strengths, fostering meaningful relationships with clients and families. In her spare time, Caroline sings with the Opera Colorado chorus, performs in local community theatre, and enjoys hiking and snowboarding in the mountains
Music Therapist - Fort Collins
Shelly Peterson, MM, MTBC
Shelly is a practicing music therapist and elementary music teacher in the Fort Collins area. Her career in music therapy started north of the twin cities in Minnesota for 6 years. She then started a private music therapy practice in Iowa and successfully ran it for over 11 years. She moved to Colorado with her husband and two children 7 years ago and loves it. She enjoys hiking, mountain biking, swimming, reading, cooking, and gardening. She is passionate about the power of music and works to instill a love of music for life with her clients and students.
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