Ron Borczon | People, Biola University

Biola Affiliations	Faculty

Degrees

M.M. University of Southwestern Louisiana
B.A. Guitar Performance, Florida State University
B.M. Music Therapy, Florida State University

Biography

Ronald M. Borczon, MT-BC, is developing the first Music Therapy Program at Biola University. He also founded the Music Therapy Department at California State University, Northridge in 1984. Borczon has written two music therapy textbooks as well as recorded two CDs featuring him as a classical guitarist. His clinical experience in music therapy spans 40 years and encompasses numerous populations including psychiatric, intellectual and developmental disability, autism, posttraumatic stress disorder and substance abuse. He has presented numerous papers at national and regional conferences, as well as given many public service presentations. He has done extensive work in the area of mass trauma and music therapy helping to set up a program after the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, the high school shooting at Columbine, Hurricane Katrina and 9/11. He has received many national and regional honors for his pioneering work in the field of music therapy.

Affiliations

2020 A continuing member of the American Music Therapy Association
1995 A continuing member of the Guitar Foundation of America
1986 American Guitar Society
1985 Certified by the Certification Board of Music Therapy #1137, Certification is current.
1979 Registered as a Music Therapist with the National Association for Music Therapy, #2590. This is now the American Association for Music Therapy.

Awards

Publication Award from the Western Region of the American Music Therapy Association, 2015.
Professional Practice Award from the American Music Therapy Association, 2012.
Professional Practice Award from the Western Region of the American Music Therapy Association, 2010.
“Outstanding Faculty Award” from California State University, Northridge, 2007. Only two are given each year.
“Award of Merit” from the American Music Therapy Association at the National Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, 2006. This award is the one of the highest forms of recognition given by the national office for contributions to the field of music therapy.
“Publication Award” at the Regional Conference for the Western Region of the American Music Therapy Association, 2003.
“Lifesaver Award” from the Northridge Chamber of Commerce, 2001.
Judge Julian Beck award from California State University, Northridge to write a handbook for students to help them utilize various techniques in addressing resistive clients in the CSUN Music Therapy Clinic, 2000.
Betty Isern Howery Award from the Western Region of the American Music Therapy Association, 1999. This is the highest honor given by the Region in recognition of contributions to the field of Music Therapy.
Grant from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to investigate the effectiveness of two different approaches of music therapy on expressive communication with autistic children, 1998.

Publications

“Music Therapy for Survivors of Traumatic Events,” Borczon, Ronald. Chapter in Music Therapy Handbook. (New York, 2015).
“Survivors of Catastrophic Event Trauma,” Borczon, Ronald. Chapter in Guidelines for Music Therapy Practice in Mental Health. (Glisim, 2013).
Life’s Lessons Through Your Guitar, Borczon, Ronald, (CreateSpace, 2011).
“Arrangement for two guitars of Reverie by Claude Debussy,” Borczon, Ronald. In Soundboard, The Journal of the Guitar Foundation of America. (2011).
“Arrangements for two guitars of The Girl With the Flaxen Hair and Golliwog’s Cakewalk by Claude Debussy,” Borczon, Ronald. In Soundboard, The Journal of the Guitar Foundation of America. (2011).
Contributed two chapters for the book Music Therapy and Trauma: Bridging Theory and Clinical Practice (New York, 2010).
Music Therapy: A Fieldwork Primer, Borczon, Ronald, (Barcelona Publishers, 2004). This book is currently being used by several universities as a required text. It is also translated into Korean.
“Taking care of one another,” Borczon, Ronald. Published in “Music Therapy Matters” the National Publication of the American Music Therapy Association in the wake of the events of 9/11/01. (2001).
“Music Therapy for the Autistic Child,” Borczon, Ronald. Published on the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) website, 1999.
Music Therapy: Group Vignettes, Borczon, Ronald. (Barcelona Publishing, 1997). This book is currently being used by several universities as a required text. It has been translated into Korean.

Areas of Expertise for Media Interviews

Healing
Mental Health
Music
Personality Disorders
Working with music with children and adults with special needs
Working in areas of mass trauma through music