Rebecca J. Froman Freiman, MA, MT-BC, is the Director of Greater Chicago Music Therapy Inc. and has been a board-certified music therapist since 2005. Founded to increase access to music therapy services for adults with dementia, neurological disorders, and intellectual disabilities, the Greater Chicago Music Therapy Inc. team travels to clients or works via telehealth to facilitate individual and group music therapy sessions. Helping to bolster psychological and physiological health and well-being and using music to address socioemotional and cognitive needs and strengths is the focus of the practice.

At the University of Michigan, Rebecca earned her undergraduate degree in music and psychology and she completed her Masters degree at University of Iowa in music therapy. Rebecca has worked as a music therapist in long term and sub-acute skilled nursing care communities, established a music therapy program for a hospice program, and has published research about music therapy and multicultural practice. As a speaker, Rebecca has presented at organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association National Headquarters, American Society on Aging, IL Alzheimer’s Association, and is a frequent guest lecturer at university and college programs. One of her most important roles has been as a carepartner within her own family. Originally from the Chicago area, she currently resides in Palatine, IL with her husband, dog, and cat.

Mia Iliopoulos graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Music in music therapy and has a Master’s of Music in music therapy from Colorado State University with an emphasis on neuroscience-informed music therapy. Additionally, she is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. In 2017, Mia completed her music therapy internship with Park Nicollet Health Services in Minneapolis, MN. There, she created a pilot music therapy program using harmonicas with patients with COPD, other chronic lung diseases, and Parkinson's disease. The success of this program led to it becoming a permanent funded program. In addition to pulmonary rehab, she also worked in hospice and palliative care, The Frauenshuh Cancer Center, medical and surgical inpatient units at The Methodist Hospital, and Struthers Parkinson's Center.

Mia began her career as a staff member in a memory care community and helped a local hospice establish a music therapy program. Later in 2017, Mia began working at Vitas Healthcare, a nationwide hospice and palliative care company, in the Southwest Chicago suburbs. There, she built a very strong music therapy program and was awarded the Vitas B.E.S.T. award in 2019 and 2020 for Building Excellence, Satisfaction, and Teamwork. In 2018, Mia joined the Greater Chicago Music Therapy team and transitioned to a full-time team therapist in 2021. Working with GCMT allows her to advocate for music therapy on a larger scale and provide services to clientele she is deeply passionate about serving.

Currently, Mia serves as President of the Illinois Association for Music Therapy and the IL Representative on the Great Lakes Region (GLR) of the American Music Therapy Association’s (AMTA) Executive Board. In addition, Mia serves as a GLR Representative on the Assembly of Delegates of AMTA, which serves as the voting body of the Association, and an Assembly Representative on the AMTA Board of Directors. She has also previously served on the regional conference planning committees and is a frequent presenter at conferences and at surrounding Midwest universities on topics including harmonica protocols, Parkinson’s disease, hospice music therapy, and becoming a new professional.