Overview

Aims and Purpose

The European Music Therapy Confederation (EMTC) is a confederation of professional music therapy associations, working actively to promote the further development of professional practice in Europe, and to foster exchange and collaboration between member countries. The overall purpose of the EMTC is to nurture mutual respect, understanding and exchange between music therapists in Europe.

Brief History

The development of a Europe-wide music therapy umbrella organisation began in 1989 with the foundation of the European Music Therapy Association (EMTA) as a forum for exchange between music therapists in Europe. In November 1991, Stichting Muziektherapie — a Dutch foundation promoting music therapy research and international collaboration — organised the first pre-conference, “Music Therapy in Health and Education in the European Community,” held in Groesbeek, the Netherlands.

Since 1992, regular professional conferences have been held:

• 1992 – Cambridge, United Kingdom
• 1995 – Aalborg, Denmark
• 1998 – Leuven, Belgium
• 2001 – Naples, Italy
• 2004 – Jyväskylä, Finland
• 2007 – Eindhoven, Netherlands
• 2010 – Cádiz, Spain
• 2013 – Oslo, Norway
• 2016 – Vienna, Austria
• 2019 – Aalborg, Denmark
• 2022 – Edinburgh, United Kingdom
• 2025 – Hamburg, Germany

The next conference will take place in Slovenia from 5th–9th July 2028.

In May 2004, the EMTC was formally established in Brussels as an AISBL (International Non-Profit Association) under Belgian law. This marked its official recognition at European level as a non-profit, international professional organisation. The EMTC operates under formally adopted Statutes, By-Laws and a Code of Ethics. Its administrative structure is led by a Board comprising a Core Board — the President and two Vice Presidents (General Secretary and Treasurer) — together with three Regional Coordinators representing different parts of Europe.

This organogram shows the organisational structure:

Current status and membership

The EMTC is a confederation of professional music therapy associations (i.e. associations of qualified, practising music therapists). Member countries have a single representative. This representative is elected by the member associations (the professional association(s) within each country). The country representative is accountable to the national associations who are members of the EMTC.

In 2026 membership includes 48 music therapy member associations representing 7002 European music therapists in 34 European countries.

Contacts

Elisabeth Kaczynski, President: elisabeth.kaczynski@emtc-eu.com
Rachel Swanick, Vice-President (Secretary-General): rachel.swanick@emtc-eu.com
Catherine Clancy, Vice-President (Treasurer): catherine.clancy@emtc-eu.com

Hanna Hakomäki, North Region Coordinator: regionalcoordinatornorth@emtc-eu.com
Gerben Roefs, Middle Region Coordinator: regionalcoordinatormiddle@emtc-eu.com
Angelica Postu, South Region Coordinator: regionalcoordinatorsouth@emtc-eu.com

Country Representatives: emtc-eu.com/emtc-country-representatives