Rebagay, Nerissa
Nerissa R. M. Rebagay is a PhD student in music education at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami. Her doctoral studies focus on elementary music education and teaching diverse students. Nerissa’s research interests include neurodiversity, creativity, and music teacher training. She has given several prac¬titioner and research-based presentations on disability in music at the local, state, national, and international levels.
Nerissa has experience teaching students of all abilities in Miami-Dade County and directs Miami Jam Sessions, a free music therapy socialization group and mentoring program for neurodiverse teens and young adults. A lifelong learner, Nerissa is a Kodály-certified teacher and is currently pursuing Orff- Schulwerk certification. The Florida Music Education Association recognized her as a 2020 Emerging Leader, and she was the 2021 Miami-Dade County Public Schools Rookie Teacher of the Year and was in the 2023 cohort of Yamaha’s 40 Music Educators Under 40. Nerissa holds an active teacher certificate in Florida and is a board-certified music therapist. She earned a Bachelor of Music in music education and music therapy from the University of Miami and a Master of Philosophy in Arts, Creativity, Education, and Culture from the University of Cambridge (UK).