The Sound Health Network is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with the University of California, San Francisco.

In Conversation with Ashley Ballou-Bonnema

Finding Her Voice: How an Opera Singer is Helping People with Cystic Fibrosis Breathe by Singing

For Ashley Ballou-Bonnema, music isn't just an art form – it's quite literally her lifeline. As a classically trained opera singer living with cystic fibrosis (CF), she has experienced firsthand how the voice and the breath that supports it can serve as both a vital health indicator and a path to healing. Now, through her nonprofit organization Breathe Bravely, she's helping others with CF discover that same transformative connection between music and wellness.

"As long as I felt that breath move between my lips and my voice within my body, I knew I was still breathing. I was still alive and still winning the game," Ballou-Bonnema reflects on singing professionally while managing CF, a genetic disease that progressively damages the lungs and respiratory system.

A Tale of Two Identities

Throughout her early career, Ballou-Bonnema maintained a strict separation between her identity as a performer and her life with CF. During her undergraduate studies in music performance, none of her peers knew about her condition. "I was adamant that I wanted to be measured against the same barometer as my peers, not necessarily as somebody with CF," she explains.

But CF had other plans. By graduate school, her lung function had declined to 50%, though she continued to perform. After a particularly meaningful performance of a Brahms piece, she experienced a severe episode of coughing up blood – a moment that forced an unwanted disclosure of her condition to faculty members.

"I was more angry than anything because it wasn't my choice to disclose this," she recalls. "It was CF kind of winning this battle in my life and trying to steal something so personal to me."

The Healing Power of Singing

When her condition deteriorated further, dropping to 25% lung function, Ballou-Bonnema faced the possibility of needing a lung transplant. What terrified her most wasn't the procedure itself, but the thought of never being able to sing again. Yet it was her dedication to music that helped fuel her recovery – within months, her lung function had doubled back to 50% and she completed her graduate degree in voice with a final recital performance. 

This experience led to an epiphany: "It wasn't Ashley with CF and it wasn't Ashley as a musician. It was where those points intersected that I would find my purpose."

Teaching Others to Breathe Bravely

Today, through her organization's SingSpire program, Ballou-Bonnema helps others with CF discover the therapeutic potential of singing. The program uses a "waterfall methodology" that starts with breath awareness and control before progressing to voice work and eventually song.

"We don't talk about whether something is defined as beautiful or pretty or good because that's not important," she emphasizes. "What's important is discovering the power and beauty within your own voice."

The response has exceeded expectations. Now in its 24th session, the program serves 40 participants at a time, with the majority being adults over 21. Participants report significant improvements, from increased lung function to better vocal health and enhanced confidence in managing their breath.

A Vision for Healthcare

Looking ahead, Ballou-Bonnema envisions expanding the role of vocology – the study of voice habilitation – in healthcare settings. She's developed a clinical approach that could help medical professionals better assess patient health through voice and breathing patterns.

"If they just learned to listen... are they clenching their throats? Is their jaw very tight? Are they clearing their throats? These elements can discern a greater depth of care for that individual," she explains. "This isn't just specific to CF. This is across the board in healthcare."

Through her work, Ballou-Bonnema is proving that the intersection of arts and medicine can open new pathways for healing – one breath, one note at a time.

*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.*

The Renée Fleming Neuroarts Investigator Awards Call for Applications

The Renée Fleming Neuroarts Investigator Awards support innovative & collaborative neuroarts research designed & conducted by early-career researchers partnered with artists.

Anna Deavere Smith, acclaimed actress, playwright, and professor, and Eric Nestler, Nash Family Professor of Neuroscience, Director of the Friedman Brain Institute, Dean for Academic Affairs at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and CSO of the Mount Sinai Health System, will once again serve as co-chairs of the review committee for the Renée Fleming Neuroarts Investigator Awards, including a prestigious interdisciplinary team of eminent researchers and arts practitioners in the the emerging neuroarts field.

Learn more about the awards here, and APPLY here.

 

For inquiries about the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative, please reach out to info@neuroartsblueprint.org.

The Neuroarts Resource Center, designed to help artists and researchers find each other and explore collaborative opportunities will launch in early 2025. To receive updates on the center sign up here.

New NIH Funding Opportunity

NIH funding opportunity RFA-NS-23-006

The NIH funding opportunity RFA-NS-23-006, part of the HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative, emphasizes advancing innovative approaches to pain management, particularly through non-pharmacological interventions. This opportunity is highly relevant to music and health research, as it supports projects that explore how music-based interventions can be developed and tested to improve health outcomes, specifically for managing chronic pain. The goal is to expand the scientific understanding of music's therapeutic potential while addressing the opioid crisis by offering alternative pain relief methods.

Applicants are encouraged to focus on interdisciplinary research integrating music therapy and neuroscience to create scalable, evidence-based solutions for diverse populations. Proposals should demonstrate innovative methodologies and the potential for real-world applications. This initiative prioritizes projects that align with public health priorities, with a deadline for submissions on February 2, 2025.

For more details, visit the official NIH funding page.

Click here to check out Funding Opportunities in Music and Health!

Also from the NIH:

NIH Music-Based Intervention Toolkit for Brain Disorders of Aging

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) recently launched the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Music-Based Intervention Toolkit for Brain Disorders of Aging. This web-based resource will help researchers and health professionals interested in exploring music-based interventions for brain disorders of aging; it was adapted from a paper published in the journal, Neurology on May 1, 2023.

Learn more about the researcher toolkit in the NCCIH Research blog here.

Access the toolkit here.

SHN Recent Presentations and Conferences in the Field

This past July, Dr. Julene Johnson represented the SHN at the Society for Music Perception and Cognition (SMPC) annual meeting. During the conference, Dr. Johnson delivered an engaging hour-long presentation showcasing SHN’s mission and resources. Her talk highlighted key topics such as increasing awareness of SHN among SMPC members, identifying music and health funding opportunities, tips for applying for music and health research grants, and strategies for fostering collaborations in music and health research. Dr. Johnson also connected with researchers, expanding SHN’s network and advancing its vision to integrate music into health research and practice. For more information about the 2024 Society for Music Perception and Cognition (SMPC) annual meeting, please visit here.

In September, Dr. Indre Viskontas spoke about the work of the SHN at the annual meeting of the National Association for Music Educators (NafME) in Atlanta, GA. She highlighted findings from her white paper on the benefits of music education on child development, as well as tools that educators might use to make the case for music education in every school. She also presented the resources that the SHN offers to individuals in the music and health space, and listened to various music educators to get a better sense of what their needs are.

In October, Dr. Johnson made a presentation about the SHN to the Music for Healing and Transition Program (MHTP). After the online conference, Dr. Johnson took questions and led a discussion with the attendees, including certified music practitioners, about therapeutic music and the benefits of music for health and well-being. According to MHTP, therapeutic music is music that is intended to alleviate a physical, emotional, or mental concern. Please see here for more information.

The Latin American Music Therapy Network

Connect with Latin music therapists through the Latin American Music Therapy Network (LAMTN)! The LAMTN was formed in 2012 and has grown into an online community that supports Latin American music therapists and allies that seek to become more culturally responsive when working with Latin American clients. Learn more here.

Affinity Group Announcements

To learn more about Sound Health Network's affinity groups, please click here.

In Case You Missed it

Exploring App-Based Music Interventions and

Therapist-Led Music Therapy

Technology has revolutionized the way we access and utilize various forms of music therapy and music-based interventions. This symposium delved into the dynamic discourse surrounding the use of technology-driven music interventions versus traditional therapist-led approaches. We discussed research findings, clinical outcomes, and case studies highlighting the advantages and limitations of each approach. Designed for music therapists, psychologists, healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, and anyone interested in the evolving field of music-based interventions, this webinar is now available here!

Music and Health Mock Study Section with Q&A

“Music and Health Mock Study Section with Q&A” was the third in the “Music and Health Grant Writing Series”, sponsored by the Sound Health Network and NIH. The music and health research community were invited to join this 90 minute webinar accompanied by a 20-minute Q&A to a) become familiar with the NIH study section review process; b) better understand how reviewers present and discuss applications to the NIH; c) learn about the importance of the review criteria: significance, innovation, investigators, approach, environment, and additional review criteria; and d) better understand the roles of the primary reviewers, the panel, and NIH staff in a NIH study section review. Watch a recording here!

Writing a Strong Research Plan

“Writing a Strong Research Plan” was the second session in the “Music and Health Grant Writing Series”, sponsored by the Sound Health Network in collaboration with the NEA and NIH. This session went into more depth about the research plan section of a grant application, with a particular focus on music and health grants.

Watch a recording here!

Research Spotlight: Singing and Health

Somayaji et al. 2022 In “Acute Effects of Singing on Cardiovascular Biomarkers,” Somayaji and coauthors explored how singing impacts cardiovascular health. Adult participants from cardiology clinics sang for 14 minutes, guided by a coaching video recorded by a vocal professor. Before and after singing, researchers assessed vascular function, heart rate variability, and the Framingham Reactive Hyperemia Index (fMRHI), a marker of endothelial function (i.e., the health of blood vessels and the lymphatic system). The study found that short-term singing improved vascular function, with the most significant benefits observed in participants with poor baseline endothelial function. Interestingly, heart rate variability during singing resembled patterns seen with light exercise. These findings suggest that singing interventions could promote cardiovascular health.

Okamoto et al. 2021 In their study “Combined Effect of Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Music Therapy in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD),” Okamoto and coauthors examined how combining music therapy with pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) affects breath control. Over eight weeks, individuals with COPD participated in either a standard PR program—featuring endurance training, breathing muscle exercises, and general conditioning—or a combined program that incorporated music therapy. The latter included singing, vocal exercises, and harmonica-based breathing activities. Results showed that patients in the combined program experienced greater improvements in breath timing and volume control compared to PR alone. These findings suggest that integrating music therapy into pulmonary rehabilitation could enhance COPD management.

Ruiz et al. 2020 In “Effects of music therapy as an adjunct to chest physiotherapy in children with cystic fibrosis: A randomized control,” Ruiz et al. explored how music therapy can improve the experience of airway clearance therapy (ACT) for children with cystic fibrosis (ages 2-17).  For children with cystic fibrosis, ACT is a daily and necessary treatment to clear mucus from the lungs and airways. Participants were divided into three groups: one listened to specially composed, recorded instrumental music during ACT, another chose their own music, and a control group listened to no music. The treatment group with tailored music therapy and specially composed music reported greater enjoyment and perceived shorter treatment times, showing MT’s potential to make ACT a more positive experience for children with cystic fibrosis. 

Goldenberg 2017 In “Singing Lessons for Respiratory Health: A Literature Review,” Rachel Goldenberg examines 17 studies exploring how music and singing can help manage respiratory symptoms in conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, cystic fibrosis, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. All studies reported positive outcomes, including improved physical abilities like maximum expiratory pressure and better breathing techniques, as well as enhanced quality of life. Participants also found the therapy enjoyable, citing mood improvements, improved physical function, better breath control, and a fun way to exercise the lungs. This review highlights how music and singing can complement traditional respiratory treatments as an effective and enjoyable approach to symptom management.

Related Conferences and Events

Suncoast Music Education Research Symposium XV: Fostering Sustainability in Music Education, Therapy, and Cognition

This symposium seeks research and practical work that focuses on sustainable musical engagement. Sustainability in music programs means fulfilling the needs of an increasing population with respect to social, psychological, cultural, and economic diversity. It is scheduled to take place on February 5-8, 2025. For more details, visit here.

National Association for Music Education – Michigan Music Conference

The Michigan Music Conference (MMC), hosted by the Michigan Music Education Association (MMEA), is an annual event aimed at advancing music education through professional development. The 2025 conference is scheduled to take place from January 23 to January 25, 2025, at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This conference will feature a wide range of sessions, performances, and exhibits designed to support music educators and promote excellence in music teaching.

For more details, please visit the Michigan Music Conference page.

Americans for the Arts – AFTACON 2025

AFTACON 2025, hosted by Americans for the Arts, will take place in Cincinnati, Ohio, from June 11–14, 2025. The convention aims to connect professionals in arts and culture through keynotes, breakout sessions, and ARTventures. Early bird registration is open until January 31, 2025, with member rates starting at $699. Events will be held at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati, with a group discount available for accommodations. Learn more and register at here.

Watch previous Sound Health Network events here.

Job Opportunities in Music and Health

Check out music and health job opportunities on our website here!

Music Therapist | Job code: 78936BR

UCSF Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital and Clinics (LPPHC) is seeking a Recreational Therapist to coordinate and manage its Creative Arts and Recreation Therapy Program, which serves adult, child, and adolescent patients in psychiatric care. This role involves overseeing staff, volunteers, and interns; developing and scheduling therapy programs; and supporting donor and community relations. The therapist will conduct assessments, provide individual and group therapy sessions, and engage families as appropriate. Additional responsibilities include maintaining accurate records, managing supplies within budget, coordinating with external resources, leading quality improvement initiatives, and supervising interns and volunteers. Candidates should have relevant education, certification or eligibility, experience with psychiatric treatment, and strong communication and documentation skills. Preferred qualifications include experience with acute mental illness, evidence-based treatments, and program development, with advanced roles requiring more extensive experience and leadership skills. To apply, please see here.

PostDoc: Genetics of musicality

The Vanderbilt Music Cognition Lab is seeking a genetics-focused postdoctoral fellow to investigate the genetic basis of human musicality traits, such as rhythm ability, and their potential overlap with communication traits, health traits, and neural endophenotypes. This interdisciplinary role involves using computational methods, contributing to genetic studies on the neural basis of musicality, and developing independent projects. The position provides tailored training in leadership, mentorship, and grantsmanship to support the fellow's career goals. Candidates must have strong computational skills, GWAS experience, and an interest in biomedical research. The lab fosters collaboration across Vanderbilt units and international research networks, with co-supervision by Vanderbilt Genetics Institute collaborators and access to institutional career development resources. Please see here for more information.

Candidates should send a CV, cover letter and publication reprints to Dr. Reyna Gordon reyna.gordon@vanderbilt.edu. 

Sound Health Music Science Fellowships  

The NIH recently issued a request for information (RFI) to gather input on early career training programs aimed at nurturing the next generation of researchers in music and health. Within the first month, this RFI garnered an incredible one hundred and sixty responses from around the world, reflecting the widespread enthusiasm and urgency in this field. This global response has laid the groundwork for the Sound Health Music Science Fellowships—a program dedicated to training researchers who explore how music therapy can transform mental health and well-being. To make a lasting difference. In partnership with the Renée Fleming Foundation, the FNIH is committed to raising over $4 million in private philanthropic support over the next seven years. This effort will be matched by the NIH with an additional $6 million—bringing our total investment to more than $10 million.

Music Man Foundation will continue funding the Meredith Willson Pilot Research Program for Music and Health. The Music Man Foundation notified UCSF of their plan to continue of the Meredith Willson Pilot Research Program. The 2023-24 funding currently supports 5 research pilots focused on music and health. Stay tuned for a new Call for Proposals, which will be posted on here.