Jean Coppa Milani was born into a large family of artists and musicians where she was taught from an early age to love beauty, look for truth and understanding, and try to get along with her brothers and sisters.  As a child, she squandered the hard-earned money her loving parents provided to give her piano, harp, and violin lessons by spending her time writing poems and songs.  These songs, though quite nonsensical at first, developed into poignant, compassionate poetry accompanied by complex melodies and harmony.

 

After studying Music Therapy at Temple University, Jean worked with autistic children at the Timothy School where, when she was so weary of singing the same old songs, she began to write her own songs for and about her "first forty" children.  These songs, ranging in topic from losing teeth to the solar system, eventually became part of plays that gave her autistic children opportunities to shine in front of others.

 

Jean continues to write songs born from the beauty and suffering she sees around her.

She is thankful for a gift that enables her to deal with her own troubles and also help minister to others by showing them the love and tender care that God has for them.