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Gene Ann Behrens Receives WFMT Lifetime Achievement Award for 50 Years of Music Therapy Innovation
Gene Ann Behrens, a 1970 graduate of Red Wing High School, was honored with the World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT) Lifetime Achievement Award at a ceremony in Bologna, Italy, on July 6, 2026. The award, presented every three years, recognizes individuals who have made lasting contributions to the field of music therapy.
Behrens, a professor emerita and former director of the music therapy program at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania, has spent five decades practicing and teaching music therapy. She earned a bachelor’s degree in therapy from Michigan State University, followed by master’s and specialist degrees from Kent State University and a doctorate from the University of Kansas. Her academic background laid the foundation for a career that blends clinical practice, research, and international outreach.
The WFMT Lifetime Achievement Award is one of the organization’s highest honors. It is awarded to professionals whose work has advanced the scientific and artistic dimensions of music therapy. Behrens’ selection reflects her pioneering neuro‑informed clinical perspective, which integrates neuroscience with therapeutic music practice. Over her career, she has published book chapters and journal articles, served on local and national professional committees, and contributed to the development of evidence‑based protocols used in hospitals and community settings.
Behrens’ influence extends beyond the United States. She has traveled to 27 countries and delivered more than 160 presentations. Notable engagements include a NATO Security Workshop on trauma in Ankara, Turkey; a grand round at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; and a session at the Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute in India. Her work with the WFMT Council spanned nine years, during which she chaired the Global Crises Intervention Commission for six years, shaping the organization’s response to humanitarian emergencies.
Fieldwork in conflict and resource‑limited settings has been a hallmark of Behrens’ practice. She spent four months in Bethlehem, Palestine, working with children and staff in schools and community programs affected by ongoing conflict. She also visited Hargeisa, Somaliland, twice to train and collaborate with staff at local facilities, and conducted work in economically challenged areas of Nairobi, Kenya. In addition, she delivered Zoom training for social workers in Gaza, demonstrating her commitment to leveraging technology for remote support.
Although retired, Behrens remains active in the music therapy community. She continues to lecture, write, and travel, and she has taken up photography as a creative outlet. Her stated philosophy emphasizes daily outreach, compassion, and tolerance as means to reconnect individuals and communities.
The award ceremony in Bologna highlighted Behrens’ role in bridging clinical practice with global health initiatives. Her career exemplifies how music therapy can be applied in diverse cultural and crisis contexts, reinforcing the profession’s relevance to mental health, trauma recovery, and community resilience.
In summary, Gene Ann Behrens’ receipt of the WFMT Lifetime Achievement Award underscores her extensive contributions to music therapy education, research, and international service. Her work continues to influence practitioners worldwide, and her ongoing engagements signal a sustained commitment to advancing the field.
Behrens, a professor emerita and former director of the music therapy program at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania, has spent five decades practicing and teaching music therapy. She earned a bachelor’s degree in therapy from Michigan State University, followed by master’s and specialist degrees from Kent State University and a doctorate from the University of Kansas. Her academic background laid the foundation for a career that blends clinical practice, research, and international outreach.
The WFMT Lifetime Achievement Award is one of the organization’s highest honors. It is awarded to professionals whose work has advanced the scientific and artistic dimensions of music therapy. Behrens’ selection reflects her pioneering neuro‑informed clinical perspective, which integrates neuroscience with therapeutic music practice. Over her career, she has published book chapters and journal articles, served on local and national professional committees, and contributed to the development of evidence‑based protocols used in hospitals and community settings.
Behrens’ influence extends beyond the United States. She has traveled to 27 countries and delivered more than 160 presentations. Notable engagements include a NATO Security Workshop on trauma in Ankara, Turkey; a grand round at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; and a session at the Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute in India. Her work with the WFMT Council spanned nine years, during which she chaired the Global Crises Intervention Commission for six years, shaping the organization’s response to humanitarian emergencies.
Fieldwork in conflict and resource‑limited settings has been a hallmark of Behrens’ practice. She spent four months in Bethlehem, Palestine, working with children and staff in schools and community programs affected by ongoing conflict. She also visited Hargeisa, Somaliland, twice to train and collaborate with staff at local facilities, and conducted work in economically challenged areas of Nairobi, Kenya. In addition, she delivered Zoom training for social workers in Gaza, demonstrating her commitment to leveraging technology for remote support.
Although retired, Behrens remains active in the music therapy community. She continues to lecture, write, and travel, and she has taken up photography as a creative outlet. Her stated philosophy emphasizes daily outreach, compassion, and tolerance as means to reconnect individuals and communities.
The award ceremony in Bologna highlighted Behrens’ role in bridging clinical practice with global health initiatives. Her career exemplifies how music therapy can be applied in diverse cultural and crisis contexts, reinforcing the profession’s relevance to mental health, trauma recovery, and community resilience.
In summary, Gene Ann Behrens’ receipt of the WFMT Lifetime Achievement Award underscores her extensive contributions to music therapy education, research, and international service. Her work continues to influence practitioners worldwide, and her ongoing engagements signal a sustained commitment to advancing the field.