The Musical Autist

The Musical Autist is a place where neurodiversity is celebrated and respected!

Their mission is to provide access to the arts and platforms for self advocacy for musicians of all ages and abilities on the autism spectrum. The Musical Autist's vision is to create places online and within the community where neurodivergent musicians and artists are celebrated and accepted, through venues where there is opportunity to work, perform, and build relationships. The Musical Autist is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that started Sensory Friendly Concerts in 2011. Other programs include Empowerment Jam Sessions and Musical Autist Troupe.

C.J. Shiloh, MT-BC, Co-Founder & Executive Director

C.J. Shiloh MT-BC, is a Board Certified Music Therapist and co-founder of The Musical Autist, a local disability rights nonprofit with a mission to provide access to the arts and create platforms for self-advocacy. TMA accomplishes this through three main programs, Sensory Friendly Concerts, Empowerment Jam Sessions, and a weekly class offered through MD Hall, Musical Autist Troupe. 

CJ is a classically trained pianist with 20 years experience as a piano instructor. She earned a liberal arts music degree in 2003, with concentrations in both music performance and music education, from Colorado State University. In 2014, she earned the MT-BC credentials through Shenandoah University, after completing a 6 month clinical internship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. 

She brings her skills in music education and music therapy to MD Hall as a teaching artist for the Troupe program, working with The Café at Maryland Hall to offer Empowerment Jam Sessions, and exploring opportunities with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra to offer Sensory Friendly Concerts in future concert series. 

Naomi Davis, MT-BC, Instructor

Naomi Davis, MT-BC, is a Board Certified Music Therapist providing services in the Annapolis area. In addition to working with The Musical Autist, a disability rights non-profit with a mission to provide access to the arts and create platforms for self advocacy, Naomi provides music therapy services through Annapolis Music Therapy.

Naomi is a bassoonist by training with over a decade of experience teaching bassoon, guitar, piano, and cello. Naomi earned a Bachelors of Music in music therapy from Colorado State University in 2020. In 2021, she earned the MT-BC credentials after completing a clinical internship at Annapolis Music Therapy. Naomi brings her training as a therapist and her passion for teaching to her role as teaching artist for the Troupe program.