Lorrie Kubicek and Kimberly Khare received Summer 2013 grants for the Song.Studio music therapy program at Next Step’s annual Face2Face conference for young adults fighting cancer July 18-21, 2013, in Ashland, MA.

Produced in partnership with MGH, the Next Step (NS) conference brings these young adults together for four days to engage in discussions, workshops, music therapy and social events.   It was started in 2012 as an integral part of Next Step, a Cambridge-based nonprofit that Lorrie’s brother Bill Kubicek founded in 2001 with the support and guidance of philanthropist Paul Newman.  Newman’s Hole-in-the-Wall camps address the needs of younger children who are seriously ill, but when they age-out of that camp experience, there was no “next step” until Bill created one.  Lorrie says the conference helps develop “a rock-solid community of youth who can identify with, learn from and count on each other for help when the going is tough.”

Kimberly’s Song.Studio adds significantly to the conference experience by empowering these young adults “to envision positive futures, develop strong coping skills and share their experiences through song writing”—a culturally relevant and youth-oriented form of expression.  Song.Studio begins with the music therapist supplying a point of departure for the song, which is then developed by the participant, using creative and critical thinking to make the best choices in song writing, recording and production.   Youth benefit not only from the therapeutic and creative aspects of the music therapy program, but also learn job and life skills.

The Emily’s Fund grant was used to support the team of music therapists who engage these young people during the conference through song writing, instrument  instruction and improvised jam sessions.  All of their creations are shared during Stage Night, a performance-focused celebration , which Lorrie describes as “poignant, awe-inspiring, hysterical, creative and down-right courageous.”

Another grant enabled Kimberly to bring Song.Studio music therapy to youth hospitalized at MGH and unable to attend the summer conference because of their illnesses, treatment schedules or side effects.

Lorrie is lead music therapist at MGH and was Emily’s beloved music compatriot and friend.  Emily’s illness prevented her from working with Lorrie at a Next Step conference, as they had planned.  Kimberly is director of Song.Studio, director of music therapy for Community Music Center of Boston and assistant professor of music therapy at Berklee College of Music.

Lorrie says “big love.”  Kimberly says “love big.”  We love them both, and we love the work they do.