Meet the Team
Executive Director of Music Therapy
Summer Lall, MT-BC
Summer Jasmine Lall, MT-BC is a Board Certified Music Therapist and obtained her Music Therapy degree from Berklee College of Music in 2008, Summa cum laude. Summer is the founder CradleSong Birthing and Rhythm & Truth Music Therapy specializing in working with adolescents. She developed the Resistance to Resilience online training programs to teach professionals best practices in using music to empower youth. Summer is the U.S. representative for the Rhythm2Recovery therapeutic drumming program and is also a HeartMath Certified Trainer. She is a Sound Birthing Fellow and trained in HealthRHYTHMS, Beat The Odds, RISE/LGBTQ, Pro-ACT de-escalation, C-SEC and Risking Connection trauma informed care. Summer has practiced music therapy in schools, shelters, daycares, foster camps, yoga studios, correctional facilities, group homes, treatment centers, hospice and hospitals. In addition to her broad local outreach, music has taken her to over 20 countries around the globe. When she is not practicing music therapy, Summer is writing, recording or performing with her band PWR CPL, hoping to inspire positive change through music however she can.
Teaching Artist
Sarai Benitez
Sarai Gabriela Bentiez (She/Her/Hers) is a recent graduate with a bachelor degree in Music from California State University Northridge (CSUN) with a strong interest in community music therapy. Her family originated from the Central American country of El Salvador and came to the United States in search of refuge during the civil war. Raised in the Central American-Korean community of Pico-Union, Los Angeles, Sarai was impacted by the correlating immigrant experiences herself and others of different backgrounds shared. She found that all the people around her dealt with pain and suffering through overexertion and substance abuse. Seeing the effects of such a harsh lifestyle and the countless barriers that held her community behind, Sarai knew she had to become the change her community needed. Her love for music blossomed as an adolescent through programs funded by non-profit organizations and foundations aiming to support low income students.These opportunities would spark a purpose in Sarai to get involved in community engagement similar to those she experienced as a child. With a full ride scholarship from The Colburn School: Community School of Performing Arts, Sarai learned to play the guitar, violin, and sight sing. Today Sarai is passionate to break the mental health stigma in her community by providing interdisciplinary therapies and space to unlearn and grow beyond multigenerational trauma. Sarai is bilingual in English and Spanish and is currently learning Korean and American Sign Language (ASL) to widen her reach of support. Sarai enjoys spending her free time volunteering through multiple organizations in her community, including Reading to Kids, Koreatown Youth Community Center (KYCC), The Colburn School, Rhythm & Truth, and more.
Music Therapist
Marina Maiztegui, MT-BC
Marina Maiztegui, MT-BC is a Brazilian and Argentinean Board-Certified Music Therapist and received her Music Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy with a minor in Psychology from Berklee College of Music in 2015, Summa cum laude. Marina is a vocalist, songwriter, performer, and multi instrumentalist who plays guitar, ukulele, percussion, and piano. Marina completed her Music Therapy training at the renowned Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine at the Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan, NY. There, she worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Radiation Oncology Unit, and lead the Asthma Initiative in NYC Public Schools. Since moving to Los Angeles, Marina has done significant work in a variety of settings such as nursing homes, schools, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, treatment centers, daycares, and more. She has extensive experience working with individuals diagnosed with Alzheimers/Dementia and with neurodiverse populations. Being born and raised in South America, Marina is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and English. In addition to her joyful and empathetic personality, Marina strives to provide a fun, creative, and encouraging environment for her patients by celebrating and improving their quality of life.
Teaching Artist
Alec Kwo
Alec Kwo is a producer and keyboardist originally from the Midwest. He studied jazz harmony at Santa Clara University and is a self-taught producer. Alec produces hip-hop and R&B, teaches music production (Ableton Live & Garage Band), piano (music theory & jazz harmony), and analog synthesis out of his home studio near K-Town; he also provides early childhood education music classes throughout LA County. Alec began as a music therapy assistant for Rhythm & Truth in 2021 and has worked with foster youth populations, teens recovering from substance use disorders, adults with schizophrenia, and more. Combining his jazz harmony background, music production skills, and experience working with various populations across the age and mental health spectrum, Alec provides a unique and modern approach that allows his students and clients alike to connect deeply with the music they love and express themselves fully as artists and people.
Music Therapist
Christine Patrikian
MT-BC, NMT, CPT
Christine Patrikian, MT-BC, NMT is a Board Certified Music Therapist and Neurological Music Therapist. She obtained her Bachelor Degree in Music Education and Vocal Performance from Cal State Long Beach and later obtained a Certificate of Music Therapy from Cal State Northridge. Christine completed her internship at Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles and completed training to be a Neurological Music Therapist immediately following internship. She is currently training to become a NICU Music Therapist through Florida State University. Christine specializes in working with patients in the mental health setting but also has experience working with populations including: pediatrics, individuals with physical or intellectual delays, veterans, geriatric individuals including those with dementia and physical rehabilitation patients. In Christine’s free time, she enjoys going to the gym, rock climbing and cooking. Finally, a fun fact about Christine is that she is a professional Holiday Caroler.
Music Therapist
Laura Johnson-Cellini
MT-BC, NMT
Laura Johnson-Cellini, MT-BC, NMT is a Board Certified Music Therapist and Neurological Music Therapist. She obtained her Bachelor Degree in Music Vocal Performance from Azusa Pacific University and later obtained a Music Therapy Equivalency from Saint Mary’s of the Woods College . Laura completed her internship at Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles and completed training to be a Neurological Music Therapist following internship. She is currently training to become a NICU Music Therapist.