Our Team
Amy Foley, MMT, MT-BC
Founder, Co-Owner, & Director of Business Operations
About Amy: Amy (she/her) has been a Board-Certified Music Therapist since 2011. She loves combining her passion for helping others and her love of music in her rewarding career as a music therapist. Amy’s primary instrument is flute, although she enjoys playing guitar, piano, and singing as well. Amy started Heartstring Melodies, LLC in 2014 to provide music therapy services to Findlay and the surrounding NW Ohio area. She previously served on the board for the Association of Ohio Music Therapists and as a member of the Ohio Music Therapy Task Force to pursue formal recognition of the profession of music therapy within the state. She is a trained mentor for the GLR-AMTA, mentoring in the areas of business development and growth. Amy currently resides outside of the NW Ohio area and focuses on the administrative aspects of the business. She serves as the Director of Music Therapy at the University of Indianapolis where she teaches and supervises undergraduate music therapy students in their clinical training. Amy is currently the webmaster for the Association for Indiana Music Therapy and will represent the American Music Therapy Association on the Assembly of Delegates for 2024-2025. Amy is married to her high school sweetheart, Nathan, and together they have a daughter and son who light up their lives
Educational background: Amy received her Bachelor of Music Therapy degree from Eastern Michigan University and her Master of Music Therapy degree from Georgia College & State University. Additionally, Amy obtained her graduate certificate in Health Professions Education and plans to pursue her Doctorate of Health Science in the near future.
Clinical experience: Amy served as staff music therapist at three schools for children with autism and developmental disabilities. Although most of Amy's clinical work has been with school-aged individuals with exceptionalities, she also has clinical experience with people living with TBI, cancer, PTSD, aging-related diseases, and mental health.
Music therapy approach: Amy approaches music therapy from an eclectic style, pulling on different theoretical orientations based on the primary needs and goal areas of the participant(s) with whom she works. It is extremely important to her to honor each participant as a unique individual that brings their gifts into the creative space of music therapy.
Lorna Spar, MT-BC
Co-Owner & Director of Clinical Services
About Lorna: Lorna has been a board-certified music therapist with Heartstring Melodies since 2017. She provides services in our Findlay office and covers community locations in Findlay down to Lima, OH.
Educational background: Lorna began her undergraduate career at the University of Dayton and received her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from Cleveland State University in 2017.
Clinical experience: Her music therapy internship was completed at New Avenues to Independence, Inc. in Cleveland, OH working with children and adults with varying needs. In addition, Lorna attended the Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy in August 2017. She has experience working with individuals with special needs in various settings. Lorna’s primary instrument is voice, and she also utilizes guitar, piano, and percussion in sessions. In her free time Lorna enjoys reading, performing in musicals, being outside, and spending time with friends and family.
Jaclyn Hotaling-O'Neill, MMT, MT-BC
Music Therapist & Marketing Manager
About Jaclyn: Jaclyn (she/her) is the board-certified music therapist for the Toledo location with Heartstring Melodies, working in the Findlay office once per week. Influenced by the significant role music played in her own life, Jaclyn is passionate about offering high-quality, individualized music therapy services to individuals, families, and groups in the community. Jaclyn has served as the secretary for the Ohio Music Therapy Task Force and will represent Northwest Ohio as a part of the 2025 Great Lakes Region Outreach Committee. In addition to her work as a music therapist, Jaclyn also serves as Program Director for BeInstrumental, a non-profit organization in Toledo that serves to make music experiences equitably accessible to all children in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.
Educational background: After receiving her bachelor's degree in music therapy from Seton Hill University (Greensburg, PA) in 2017, Jaclyn completed Slippery Rock University's master's program in music therapy in 2022. Her thesis, "Understanding Dignity in Psychiatric Music Therapy: A Thematic Analysis (2022)," explored the ways in which a music therapists' understanding of dignity impacts their respective philosophical orientations and therapeutic practice while working in a psychiatric setting. Jaclyn's master's degree included a counseling concentration, offering additional opportunities to strengthen her theoretical orientation and approach to music therapy. Jaclyn is currently applying for graduate programs in counseling to offer additional support to those with whom she works.
Clinical experience: While living in Albany, NY, Jaclyn worked within a private practice offering music therapy in schools, community organizations, and within a clinic setting. Since moving to Toledo, Jaclyn accumulated several years of clinical experience working within mental health settings, including general hospital units and institutional settings. Jaclyn frequently incorporates her previous experiences into her current work, which includes working with neurodivergent individuals, individuals with various intellectual and developmental disabilities, community mental health organizations, and substance use recovery centers.
Music therapy approach: Jaclyn strives to center the lived experiences and expertise of those with whom she works, practicing from an ecological, systemic, and resource-oriented perspective. Her approach to music therapy is rooted in anti-oppressive practices, which aims to recognize the ways in which health is disrupted by systemic barriers in our society. With voice as her primary instrument, Jaclyn believes in the power of music therapy to hold space for clients' unique voices and experiences as they work towards their goals.
Annie Burt
Contracted Administrative Assistant
About Annie: Annie is a virtual assistant with Therapy Practice Solutions, and assists with onboarding and fielding messages for Heartstring Melodies. She is a mother of one amazing and spunky girl and has been married to her wonderful husband for 16 years. They also share their home with two sassy cats.
She lives in Olympia, Washington, where she takes full advantage of the nature around her with frequent nature walks and mushroom hunting. Annie also plays the violin since the age of 10 and currently plays in two local symphonies, as well as teaches a small studio of students. She loves playing music and the ability it has to bring people of all ages and backgrounds together.
Educational background: Annie is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor's degree in Medical Anthropology and Global Health. She is also studying as a graduate student at Oregon State University, earning her masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.