We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Holly Demarino a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Holly, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
My sense of purpose began to take shape during high school in my small hometown, where access to specialized healthcare was a significant challenge. Seeing families travel long distances— sometimes up to two hours—for essential services deeply affected me.
Around that time, I learned about “music therapy” from our church choir director. Discovering its potential to help people, especially those facing health challenges, inspired me to pursue a path focused on healthcare accessibility and innovation.
Since then, my goal has been to make music therapy more accessible and affordable for underserved communities like the one I grew up in. Working at Perfect Harmony Health has been crucial in turning this vision into reality, providing me with opportunities to make a meaningful impact in healthcare.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
As a neurologic music therapist, I use evidence-based music interventions to help clients achieve a variety of goals. For example, if a client needed support in their working memory I could use a Neurologic Music Therapy® technique called Musical Mnemonics Training (MMT) ® to assist them in recalling important non-musical information such as their parent’s phone numbers or home address. What truly exhilarates me about my work is music’s profound ability to connect with people on multiple levels. With such diverse musical tastes and versatile applications, I creatively tailor interventions to meet each client’s unique needs.
In addition to my therapy role, I also oversee our programs, including the Roswell Players. This special needs performance troupe and social group rehearses weekly, and it’s incredibly rewarding to witness the energy and enthusiasm our actors bring each session. Our annual production, held every April, is a highlight where their talents truly shine. This year, we are working on Willy Wonka Jr.!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Empathy, resilience, and patience.
For those early in their journey, I would advise patience and self-compassion. Embrace rejection as part of the process—it makes success all the more rewarding. Not every job will be your dream job, but each one offers valuable learning experiences. Practice empathy by understanding others’ perspectives and always be willing to go the extra mile to support those around you. These qualities not only foster personal growth but also build a foundation for lasting success in any endeavor.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
We are grateful to have received a generous grant from The Parkinson’s Foundation, allowing us to launch a 6-week Vocal Wellness Program tailored for Georgia residents. This virtual program focuses on enhancing voice quality, tone, volume, and breath control. We are eager to collaborate with speech, occupational, and physical therapy clinics interested in referring their Parkinson’s patients to benefit from our program!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://perfectharmonyhealth.com/
- Instagram: @perfectharmonyhealth
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-demarino-6aa37926b/
Image Credits
Credits to Narda Sigala, photographer.
AND
Credits to Kenzi Taylor, communications director.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
