Accomplished Music Therapist, researcher and performer Demian Kogutek, joins the Faculty of Music as Assistant Professor of Music Therapy.

June 16, 2022

Laurier's Faculty of Music is pleased to announce the appointment of Demian Kogutek to the role of Assistant Professor of Music Therapy as of July 1, 2022.

Demian is an accredited Music Therapist through the Canadian Association of Music Therapists, having completed his Master of Music Therapy at Wilfrid Laurier University and Bachelor of Music Therapy at the University of Windsor.

With his virtuosic and versatile musicianship on the guitar, important research involving improvisation and Parkinson’s Disease, incorporating state-of-the-art digital technologies into practice, Laurier Music is excited to attract this incredibly strong and forward-thinking voice in the world of music therapy to our faculty.

Kogutek completed his PhD in 2018 from the University of Western Ontario (UWO) where his research involved studying the skills acquired by clients with Parkinson’s Disease who experienced home-based Improvised Music therapy sessions. His PhD research stemmed from a collaboration between UWO’s Health and Rehabilitation Science program and the Brain and Mind Institute.

“We are extremely fortunate that Demian is joining the Faculty of Music,” says Dr. Heidi Ahonen, Laurier Professor of Music Therapy. “Demian’s extensive research with Parkinson’s Disease will bring a meaningful addition to the research being conducted through Laurier’s Manfred and Penny Conrad Institute for Music Therapy Research lab.”

“I am delighted to return to Wilfrid Laurier University,” says Demian Kogutek. “As an alumnus of the Faculty of Music, my student experience became a transformative environment that shaped my clinical and research career. My goal is to inspire students and to continue Laurier’s long and distinguished history of music therapy education and training in Canada.”

Dean Johnston Turner adds, “Demian is incredibility impressive as a teacher, performer, researcher, thinker, and music therapist. We are so fortunate to welcome him to our community.”

Demian joins Laurier from the University of Evansville in Indiana, USA, where he served as the director of music therapy along with being an instructor of guitar, music therapy and music therapy practica supervisor.

Please join us in welcoming Demian Kogutek to the Faculty of Music and our Laurier community!