Dominique Mirabella
MA Music Therapy
1. Tell us about yourself
I’m from Colorado and have lived in three different states, including Arizona and California, before moving to the UK. I’ve always loved the outdoors, hiking, exploring, and camping. It would be impossible for me to choose between beach or mountain, I love them both! I also love to sing and have been in choirs and personal voice lessons most of my life. I sing first soprano, so I have a pretty high voice. My favourite flower is the calla lily, and I love Italian food. In terms of academics, I studied at Arizona State University for my undergrad where I studied music therapy and also received a minor in business. I’ve known since a young age that I wanted to be a music therapist, and I’ve always wanted to live in England.
2. What is your fondest memory of Anglia Ruskin University?
My first Global Week was very special for me because I took part in the talent show and presented a dance that is popular in Native American Powwows in the USA. It was my first time ever dancing on stage and it was really meaningful to be able to share my culture with my university. I love Global Week at ARU. There’s so much spirit, music, food, clothes, and dancing. I love how all out the university goes to celebrate international students and culture.
3. What has been your favourite job?
My favourite ARU job was when I worked for the international office. I loved being a Digital Student Ambassador and getting to share my experience as an international student over my wo year programme was great. ARU even sent me to Dubai to talk to recruiters about my experiences at university, which was a huge honour and such a cool opportunity.
In my professional career, I really love my current job in the NHS working in Children and Young People Mental Health Service. I work as a Mental Health Practitioner and Music Therapist. I’m setting up the first music therapy programme for my team, which I absolutely love. It’s a challenging job, but incredibly rewarding work.
4. In one word, how would you describe Anglia Ruskin University?
Fantastic!
5. How did your time at ARU help you?
In my programme, we had two clinical placements to give us real-world working experience. I was lucky enough to do both of my placements in the NHS.
My first placement was at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London working with infants. My second placement was at Fulbourn Psychiatric Hospital in Cambridge working with adults. These placements helped me get a job in the NHS working in Children and Young People Mental Health Service. I had NHS experience, was comfortable working in hospitals and with multidisciplinary teams, and ARU’s help in organising these placements was crucial to my success.
6. What did you love about your chosen course?
I loved how the course was linked to the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research. Sometimes our lectures were given by members of the research institute, and it was amazing to get to learn from specialists in their field and respected researchers. It added to my learning experience to have different voices and specialists’ perspectives.
I had the amazing opportunity to work as an intern for the institute over the summer, which was organised by ARU. It was a great networking opportunity for me and to learn more about how research is organised and funded from start to finish. I feel grateful that my course has this additional resource and music therapy community.
7. What advice would you give to current students as they’re preparing to graduate?
Seek ARU career services support. They are very knowledgeable, and even if you don’t think you need it, it doesn’t hurt to have them look at your CV and cover letters and tell you where to start looking for work. I eventually went there for support after a few months of looking for a job after graduation, and they were so helpful and friendly. ARU wants you to succeed after graduation, and you can access their support years after you graduate, which is amazing.
8. What do you know now that you wish you had known whilst studying?
I wish I had known that feeling out of place at first is completely normal. It takes time to adjust to a new culture, school, and education system, and it’s okay to ask questions or make mistakes along the way. I thought because I was coming from the USA that there wouldn’t be as many cultural norms and differences, but there are! It takes time to adjust, but leaning into the culture and way of life is really exciting and a learning opportunity to see things differently.
9. Who was the biggest influence on your career?
Honestly, my professors for the Music Therapy course at ARU have been a huge influence and source of inspiration. I look up to Alexandra Georgaki and Claire Molyneux a lot and think their approaches to the field and how they taught the course was phenomenal.
10. What advice would you give your younger self?
Follow your gut instincts and intuition. Go ahead and take the leap to move abroad, you won’t regret it.
11. Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.
I’ve backpacked in the bottom of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The Grand Canyon is about a mile deep from top to bottom, and man was I tired coming back up! So beautiful though. The most stunning waterfalls in the world.
12. What’s next?
My graduate visa is good until mid-summer of 2026, and then who knows? I might look at other visa options to stay in the UK, keep exploring and live somewhere new or go back home. I’m sure whatever I choose, I’ll have ARU in my corner supporting me.