NASHVILLE -- Professional music therapists demonstrated to a packed house at Henry's Great Coffeehouse the special power of musical talent when it's inspired by a passion for helping people.

The Nov. 18 show, billed as "Cabaret Night," was one of the concluding events of the 1996 Music Therapy Joint Conference -- five days of clinics, performances and discussions. Music Therapists from all over the country signed up and played one song each. For the members of the music therapy field, it was an inspiring evening. For everyone else, it was a chance to sample styles ranging from classical to folk to jazz to Celtic to just about anything else you can think of.

While it would be impossible to mention all the performers, highlights included performances by vocalist Glen Schifano, a burly guy from New York who paid tribute to his hometown with a stirring rendition on "New York State of Mind." At times standing two feet back from the microphone, Schifano demonstrated surprising power and range with a voice that was simultaneously refined but rough-edged. He took the stage later on to lend his pipes to Van Morrison's "Moondance."

Another highlight was Tracy Richardson, who hobbled up on stage with a recently-sustained broken foot to tickle the ivories a little.

"Nashville can be hard on a person," the Terre Haute, Indiana, native quipped of her injury before laying her original tune "Box Full of Memories" on the audience. The ballad featured unique interplay between Richardson's vocal melody and a counterpoint on the piano.

One of the more moving performances was delivered by Barbara Dunn, a therapist who works in a hospice with AIDS victims. Noting that her songwriting provides a means to come to grips with the pain she sees on a daily basis, she provided a dark and moody glimpse at the daily lives of her patients through song.

On a more upbeat note, The "King Family," featuring mom and dad with bro and sis (both under the age of 8), gave their regards to Broadway with a choreographed, a capella rendition of "Consider Yourself." Doing that Rockettes thing at the end, they earned a standing ovation from the crowd.

Ripping it up on an Epiphone Skunk Baxter guitar, Dan Gormley effortlessly surfed through various jazz and blues idioms while Alan Turry managed to make himself ever-present, grabbing whatever instrument was available, whether it be piano, bass or drums.

Finally, Susan M. Davis was on hand to perform the song that won the conference's "Unification Songwriting Contest" and also earned her a Gibson J-45 acoustic guitar.

"The song pretty much wrote itself," Davis said of her tune "Let's Come Together." The song features a hummable melody line and simple lyrics that almost qualify it as an anthem. "I just put it together in a natural style."

In anticipation of her new prize, Davis was quick to note the importance of companies who support the efforts of music therapists.

"Gibson has been fabulous to the NAMT," Davis said. "They're in this with us."