Melissa Wenszell

    Melissa Wenszell Samborski, MacPhail Music Therapy Co-Founder, Senior Music Therapist, joined MacPhail Center for Music in 2001 as a board certified Music Therapist, becoming director in 2008.  She earned a Bachelor of Music Therapy degree from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, and earned a Masters degree in Music – Neurologic Music Therapy from Colorado State University.  She is a Fellow of The Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) and a trained neonatal intensive care unit music therapist (NICU-MT).

    She has worked as a music therapist in a variety of settings, including health care units, rehabilitation centers, mental health facilities, schools, camps and correctional facilities.  As a music therapist at MacPhail Melissa works in individual sessions, groups, classes, and partnerships with clients of all ages and diagnoses.  She is experienced in team leadership, curriculum design, program development and supervision.

    Melissa is also the clinical director of a university affiliated music therapy internship with the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and serves as a practicum supervisor for Augsburg College and the University of Minnesota music therapy students.  Melissa has taught in keyboard, piano, guitar, basic percussion, accordion and vocal performance as adaptive lessons through MacPhail.

    Melissa has presented at international, national, state and community conferences and for various community service and health organizations.