WT Band Alumni Spotlight: Amy (Barnhart) Hammel-Zabin

Name

Amy (Barnhart) Hammel-Zabin

What years were you in the WT Band? When did you graduate?

1980-84

What was your degree in?

Bachelor of music therapy

Where are you living now and what are you doing?

Just retired and spend winters on Skidaway Island in Savannah, Georgia, and summers on the beach in Milford, Connecticut.

Tell us about your family.

My son, Benjamin Zabin, is a magician in Las Vegas. My daughter, Alixandra Zabin is a wilderness therapy graduate student in Boulder, Colorado. My husband, Jay Meizlish, just retired from being an interventional cardiologist.

What instrument did you play?

Flute/piccolo

What ensembles and student groups were you involved in while you were at WT?

Band, wind ensemble, orchestra

Tell us a favorite band memory that you have from your time at WT.

Winning the freshman, March down!

Share with us what you miss most about your time at WT.

Living in such a remote part of the country

Do you have a favorite memory or highlight that has happened for you since graduation?

I received my masters degree in music therapy at FSU and was a member of the flying high Circus. I then received my doctoral degree in music therapy from NYU where I then was an adjunct professor for many years in their graduate music therapy program.

I consulted at Greenwich, Stamford, and Norwalk hospitals in Connecticut and authored a book ‘Conversations with a pedophile: in the interest of our children’ which has since been published in many languages. My book was featured in ‘psychology today’ and I was guest on many radio & television shows such as: John Walsh show, O’Reilly factor, and NPR.

What did you learn from your time at WT?

That being in a ‘small pond’ can bring rich rewards

What are some of your favorite musical memories?

Having fabulous faculty musicians, such as Dr. George Eason accompany me for recitals.

Why did you come to WT?

It offered a music therapy degree and was far away from home yet still in Texas

What was your favorite band trip and why did you like it so much?

Playing at Carnegie Hall. Loved getting introduced to NYC.

Do you have any advice for current WT students?

Trust your gut and don’t simply go with the flow.

What else would you like for us to know? (Career or family highlights, awesome memories, people who inspired you at WT etc.)

Sally Turk was an amazing mentor, teacher and I have been lucky enough to have been able to cherish our friendship to this very day. She has traveled to my various homes, and my children consider her as a dear friend as well.