2026 MAR-AMTA Annual Hybrid Conference: Online and at Immaculata University on February 26-March 1, 2026

Conference Registration is Now Open!

Conference Schedule

Hello Friends and Members of MAR-AMTA! 

The time is here! We are excited to announce that registration is OPEN for the 2026 MARAMTA hybrid conference taking place February 26-March 1! We are looking forward to introducing our new hybrid model, where in-person experiences are held at a MAR University – this time at Immaculata University in Malvern, PA. We are hopeful that our new hybrid model will offer the best of both worlds for conference participants. The online portions of the conference will be held on February 26 & 27, 2026. In person experiences will be held February 27-March 1, 2026 at IU. FYI: Concurrent sessions and CMTEs that are offered online will be recorded and available for viewing for 3 months after the conference has concluded; A link and password will be sent at a later date. In person sessions will not be recorded. 

Click here to register!

In-Person registration for the MAR-AMTA conference is officially closed! Registration for the online portion of the conference will remain open. Looking forward to seeing you all soon!

Conference Rates:

Professional AMTA Members: Tier 1: $175 | Tier 2: $125 

Non-Members: Tier 1: $225 | Tier 2: $175

Students: $75

Equity-based Tier Selection Guide:

The tier-based dues structure is a model rooted in equitable practices, encouraging the joining member to use discernment of their unique situation when selecting a membership category. Professional music therapists will be asked to select one of the following tiers:

• Tier 1 if you comfortably meet basic needs and have expendable income.
• Tier 2 if you are struggling to meet basic needs and have minimal expendable income.
• Students: If you are a student who is assisting with a presentation or have difficulty affording the conference fee, please contact vpconferenceplanning@maramta.org

Professional conference fees are based on a tiered dues structure rooted in equity that considers intersections and identities, specific life circumstances, and career stage. For this conference, a simplified adaptation was made from the previous rate structures developed by the AMTA membership committee and voted on by the Assembly of Delegates. We trust our community members to choose their rate based on their own good faith self assessment. As per AMTA: “References: This multi-level rate scale and guidance was adapted, with gratitude, from accountability mapping, found at https://accountabilitymapping.thinkific.com. AMTA wishes to thank Dr. Natasha Thomas for sharing this resource with us”. 

Please note- Membership and conference scholarships are available through MAR-AMTA. https://mar-amta.org/support-and-scholarships/ 

Hotel Information

We have reserved a room block for conference attendees at the Hampton Inn Great Valley, Malvern, which is 1.5 miles away from campus from February 27-March 1 (Friday & Saturday nights). Group rates are as follows: $125 for a room with two queen beds; $115 for a room with one king bed and a pullout sofa. Please reserve asap so that we can maintain the block. The hotel offers free parking, free wifi, and complimentary breakfast. 

• Address: 635 Lancaster Ave., Frazer, Pennsylvania, 19355, USA
• Hotel Information: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/phlfzhx-hampton-philadelphia-great-valley-malvern/
• To book a hotel room, please visit our Reservation Link: https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/phlfzhx-90m-d43fd814-2ea0-4de4-9857-51ac4d3c665e/ 
• You can also call the hotel directly (610) 699-1300 and providing our organization name “Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association”

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to Corey Olver (vpconferenceplanning@maramta.org) and Zach Alfred Levow (vpconferenceplanningelect@maramta.org). We look forward to welcoming you to the conference this year! 

In Service, 

Corey Olver, PhD, MT-BC, LPC, ACS

VP for Conference Planning, MAR-AMTA

Zachary Alfred-Levow, MT-BC

VP for Conference Planning-Elect, MAR-AMTA

Exhibit Hall Information

Exhibitor Registration

We have become aware of a snafu with exhibitor registration for the conference. If you would like to reserve a virtual or in-person exhibit hall booth, or if you would like to advertise in the conference, please see below for more information. If you successfully registered as an exhibitor through the Zoom conference registration page, you are good! This alternate pathway is only for those who were unable to register through that platform. Deadline for Exhibitor Registration is February 1, 2026.

Exhibitor Information Letter

Prices

• In-Person Exhibit Hall Vendor: Sales, Marketing, Professional Organizations: $175 (additional adjacent table $25)
• In-Person Exhibit Hall Vendor: State Association, University/College: $75
• In-Person Exhibit Hall Vendor: Internship Site (Free)
• Virtual Exhibor Booth on Zoom: $100
• Virtual & Printed Advertisement in PDF Conference Program: $50

Exhibitor Registration Link (New)

Corey

Call for Papers is Open!

Hello MAR-AMTA! The Conference Planning Committee is so excited to be having a new format for conference this year! We will be planning two distinct components of the conference, with online synchronous and in person options. Please note – Online sessions will be recorded and available for 3 months after the conference. In person presentations will not be recorded – they are for live audience only. We hope this will create opportunities for more experiential learning that capitalizes on the advantages of each modality. The 2026 “Call for Papers” for our conference is officially open, and information for submitting a proposal is below! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Corey Olver, VPCP at her email address below. Thank you all and we look forward to receiving your proposals and hosting you both Virtually and In Person in 2026!! 

• Virtual components of the conference will be held February 26-27, 2026
• In Person components of the conference will be held February 27-March 1, 2026 at Immaculata University in Malvern, PA
• Concurrent Sessions & CMTEs will be available both virtually and in person. All concurrent sessions and CMTEs will be presented live.
• The “Call for Papers” is OPEN. All presenters must register for conference for their presentation to be accepted and included. 
• Before filling out the online form, please review the following documents:
  • The 2026 Conference Proposal Review Information provides information on items that reviewers will be paying attention to, and provides more information on the proposal question related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • The 2026 Call For Papers PDF – is a document that includes all of the questions so you can have a hard copy to refer to.  Please DO NOT use this to turn in your call for papers.  It must be submitted electronically through the link below. You may use this document for preparing to submit your proposal. 
• CMTE credits available to be earned for presentations: Total allowed: 100
  • 10 Credits for Less Than 150 Minutes of Delivery 
  • 30 Credits for Equal to or More Than 150 Minutes of Delivery 

• The Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association seeks to acknowledge and repair the oppressive structures placed upon our historically marginalized music therapy colleagues and students. With this in mind, we are providing compensation in the form of free conference registration for historically marginalized music therapy members. We recognize the emotional labor required in both constructing and presenting these sessions. To receive this free conference registration:
  • Individuals must be from a historically marginalized community (e.g. Asian, Black, Disabled, Indigenous, Latinx, LGBTQIA2+, North African, South-West Asian).
    • MAR-AMTA recognizes Affinity Groups as those who represent historically marginalized and oppressed community members.
  • Individuals must submit their presentation within the “Call for Papers” call period.
    • Presentations must undergo the anonymous review process and receive a passing score. 
  • In the “Call for Papers,” individuals must select “yes” in the corresponding section for this compensation.
    • The Vice-President for Conference Planning will have sole access to this identifying information and will not question or police individuals identity. 

PROPOSAL DEADLINES:

Deadlines for CONCURRENT sessions proposals are as follows.  

Proposals that are accepted for presentation qualify for a registration discount according to the date of submission.  Proposals must be received by midnight on the date indicated to be eligible for the discount.

NOTE: There is only one discount per presentation.  Individuals may only receive one discount per conference.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2025 (by 11:59pm): $35.00 registration discount

OCTOBER 6, 2025 (by 11:59pm): $25.00 registration discount

OCTOBER 20, 2025 (by 11:59pm): Final submission deadline. (No registration discount.)

(Discounts are for concurrent sessions ONLY. CMTE presenters receive a stipend)

Last but not least, please follow THIS LINK to submit your proposal. We are excited for your submissions and hope to host you at the 2026 Virtual Conference! 

If you have any questions please contact Corey Olver at vpconferenceplanning@maramta.org . 

In service, 

Corey Olver, PhD, MT-BC, LPC, ACS

Vice-President of Conference Planning MAR-AMTA

vpconferenceplanning@maramta.org 

Zachary Alfred-Levow, MT-BC

Vice-President of Conference Planning Elect MAR-AMTA

vpconferenceplanningelect@maramta.org 

Miranda Murphy, MT-BC 

Continuing Education Coordinator, MAR-AMTA

continuingeducation@maramta.org 

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Conference Updates and Announcements

Past MAR Conferences

More information about previous Mid-Atlantic Region Music Therapy Conferences is available in the conference archives. Click here to access the archives.