Bonnie Nilsson (b. 1977) Graduated from the University of Western Sydney in 2002 as an inaugural scholarship recipient with a Masters in Creative Music Therapy.
After establishing the Music Therapy Department at The Children’s Hospital Westmead in 2003, Bonnie introduced a varied program to the Hospital setting working in Oncology and Long Term paediatric care. As well as delivering planned music therapy sessions, Bonnie developed innovative programs under the banner of ‘Sound Health’ that involved some of Australia’s leading arts organisations, including The Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Musica Viva and well known artists including Jimmy Barnes, Jenny Morris, Tim Freedman and Guy Sebastian.
In 2014, Bonnie with her partner Australian composer Paul Jarman, established Valla Voices a children’s choir who tour nationally. With Paul she also composes commissioned works and in 2018 was an invited artist at Gondwana National Choral school, providing a 4 day introductory program on Music Therapy.
Bonnie teaches classical piano at Bellingen High School, Bishop Druitt College and from her studio in Valla. A multi-talented and versatile musician, her students travel from across the mid north coast ranging in ages 4-75 to experience the joys of music through piano, guitar, voice, trumpet and song writing. Bonnie’s specialist skills enable those with additional learning needs to access music lessons in a tailored program to suit.
In 2019 Bonnie’s work in the field of Music Therapy enabled her to launch the ‘Musicians in Hospitals’ project with local musician Stephanie Sims. Bonnie developed and trained 12 local musicians, with a focus on health, to work in Coffs Harbour Hospital. In 2021 she won the NSW Mid North Coast Health Innovation Award for her collaborative program The Voice Project for its successful online delivery to Parkinsons patients across NSW improving quality of life and vocal function through singing.