Dr Indra Selvarajah
- PhD (Music Education/Music Therapy), Florida State University, USA
- Music Therapy Equivalency, Florida State University, USA
- Master in Arts (Piano Performance/Music Psychology), University of Wales, UK
- BMus (Piano Performance), University of Wales, UK
- NICU MT, Florida State University, USA
Dr Selvarajah is a highly experienced scholar and clinical expert in the field of music therapy, with over 20 years of experience as a university lecturer and clinical practitioner. As Malaysia’s first PhD-qualified music therapist, she has been at the forefront of advancing the field, particularly in medical music therapy, community development, and specialised care for diverse populations.
Dr Selvarajah completed her PhD in music therapy at Florida State University in 2013 and is a certified NICU music therapist through Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. Her extensive clinical experience includes neonatal care, critical care environments and mental health facilities, with a particular focus on developing music therapy programmes for special needs education, older adults with chronic illness and the well-elderly.
A passionate advocate for advancing music therapy in Southeast Asia, Dr Selvarajah has played an instrumental role in establishing and integrating music therapy programmes in Malaysian hospitals. Her work also includes forging strong partnerships with organisations such as the Malaysian Parkinson’s Disease Association, Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Malaysia, and the National Autism Society of Malaysia.
As an academic, she has taught a wide range of courses, including music therapy, music psychology, music in special education, research in music therapy and music management, while supervising undergraduate and postgraduate research projects.
In addition to her clinical and academic work, Dr Selvarajah currently serves as the Chair of the Global Crises Intervention Commission for the World Federation of Music Therapy, a role she has held since 2020. Dr Selvarajah’s leadership extends to other professional roles, including her involvement with the International Association for Music & Medicine and the Malaysian Society for Music in Medicine, where she has served as Vice President and Secretary-General. She is also a founding president of the Malaysian Music Therapy Association (MMTA), which she helped establish in 2016.
A highly sought after speaker, Dr Selvarajah has been invited to present her keynote speeches and spotlight sessions at numerous international conferences, including the World Congress of Music Therapy (2023) and the Australian Music Therapy Association National Conference (2024).
Dr Selvarajah’s commitment to serve the community through music therapy and advancing music therapy in Southeast Asia is further exemplified through her role in organising events like ‘Moving Music Therapy Forward in the Region: Challenges, Opportunities & Strategies’ (2023), which united music therapy leaders to address challenges and opportunities for advancing the profession in the region. Her international advisory roles include collaborations with the Institute of Salutogenesis and Complementary Medicine in India and the Southeast Asia Masters Group, supporting music therapy education and research across the region.
Through her ongoing leadership, research, and clinical expertise, Dr Selvarajah continues to push the boundaries of music therapy internationally, advocating for its transformative impact on healthcare, community development, and global well-being.