National Music Centre supports music therapy at Ranch Ehrlo
The National Music Centre (NMC) Music Therapy Initiative has awarded Ranch Ehrlo Society a $70,000 grant to further support the delivery of music therapy services.
This marks the third consecutive year that NMC, a non-profit museum, performance venue, and recording studio, has chosen to support music therapy at the Ranch.
“This funding will help us sustain what we’re currently doing while enhancing our work by adding capacity to complete research and embark on new endeavors,” said Melanie MacDonald, certified music therapist. “It really has been phenomenal to see the growth of music therapy at Ranch Ehrlo.”
Over the past two years, funding from the NMC Music Therapy Initiative has had a profound impact on the lives of children, youth, adults, and families. Support has enabled program expansion, fostering a greater awareness of music therapy and strengthening its presence within the organization.
In 2023, music therapy expanded to include the Family Treatment Program (FTP), Family Centred Addictions Program (FCAP), Group Living Treatment Services (GLTS), and the LGBTQ2 True Colour program. NMC funding also supported a paid internship for a music therapy student, which led to the graduate joining Ranch Ehrlo as a second certified music therapist in 2024.
With NMC’s continued support, services have steadily grown – extending to day program students and introducing Harmonic Connections, a special focus group for youth in group living. Growth has also included annual client meetings that bring together clinical consultants and music therapists, as well as the launch of summer sessions at the Pilot Butte campus in July and August 2025.
Looking ahead, Melanie plans to use NMC funds to dedicate time and resources toward research on the FTP and FCAP programs, with a particular focus on family sessions. Music therapists also intend to host a spring musical while building cultural competency through the theme of the Seven Sacred Teachings and further grow services to reach participants in Ranch Ehrlo’s new Community Living Supports program.
“The impact the funds from the NMC Music Therapy Initiative have been evident not only in the number of participants served, but also in the growth and joy observed by the participants,” said Melanie. “Whether it’s a youth having the opportunity for their voice to be heard in a safe, creative environment, or the parent learning about their children through creative play after being reunited, music continues to have an impact and be a catalyst for positive change.”
If you’d like to donate to Ranch Ehrlo’s music therapy program, please make your contributions here by selecting ‘music therapy’ from the drop-down menu. NMC matches all donations.
