From the Heart We Learn Wisdom Interview with Sr. Donna Marie Beck, Recipient of the AMTA Lifetime Achievement Award in Music Therapy 2003 By Petra Kern

A sparkle in her eye, a story ready to tell, an open heart and always an encouraging word, that is Sr. Donna Marie Beck. I had the privilege to talk with her at the Fifth Annual American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota in November 2003. Sr. Donna Marie Beck is the Chair of the Music Therapy Department at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (http://ww.duq.edu). Throughout her professional life, she has devoted incredible time and energy to the development and growth of music therapy. For 17 years, she passionately mentored and educated numerous music therapy students and undoubtedly touched their lives. Sr. Donna believes in “meeting the student where the student is and discovering what it is the student needs to learn and what the strengths of the student are, to weave a program that is suitable for the person.” Sr. Donna Marie Beck also sat on various Boards and committees of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and has served her region as Treasurer, Historian and Archivist. As a guided imagery and music (GIM) fellow, Sr. Donna Marie Beck investigated the integration of spirituality and guided imagery and music. Her research can be found in the Journal of the Association of Music and Imagery. In this interview Sr. Donna Marie Beck shares stories from the heart and insights from her rich life as a music therapist. This interview also features a live recording of the actual award presented by Mary Adamek, president of AMTA and an unique song presented to Sr. Donna by her colleagues, friends and family members at the reception afterwards.