Worcester resident Cara Brindisi was already making a change in music long before stepping out on The Voice stage.
The 34-year-olds blind audition on the singing competition show earlier this month, with Brindisi singing Taylor Swifts All Too Well in front of superstar celebrity coaches Camila Cabello, John Legend, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton.
Her performance left an impression.
I hear something here that I havent heard this entire season. I want this girl on my team, Shelton said.
Brindisi posted to her Facebook page Monday prior to The Voice airing.
Battles are on tonight. I cant tell what Im more excited about. My song. My battle partner. My performance. Ormy outfit, Brindisi wrote. A passion for music therapy
Despite already starting off on a strong note in the competition, Brindisi has always held a strong connection to her passion for music therapy.Related: The Voice: Worcesters Cara Brindisi makes last-minute coach change after audition
The artist worked as a board-certified music therapist for those in hospice care. The then 18-year-old was inspired to pursue her career path after seeing the power music had with her own grandfather, who had Alzheimers.
He was showing the signs of forgetting things and not really connecting with people anymore but then I would sing certain songs and his whole demeanor would change and hed light up, Brindisi told MassLive.
When it came time to pick an area of study for college, Brindisi always knew she wanted to study something in the vast world of music. After seeing her grandfathers progress with music she said it was enough to see that music can truly help people.
I looked into it and I thought it could be really cool because it really is a combination of working with people and wanting to help them, but also studying music and being a musician.
Brindisi attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. She completed a Bachelors Degree in Music Therapy, with a principal instrument her voice. From there, her journey into music therapy was propelled.
The field is not simply about the music. Its about reaching goals through music and how those goals help not only the patient but also the loved ones of a patient.
Theres so much science behind it like our neurology, the psychology. Its very physiological, she said when speaking about the physical change music presented in patients. Its something Ive been so passionate about over the years.
After completing higher education, Brindisi moved on to work at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester in the hospice program. She was there for nine years.
During her time, she helped her patients reach goals through music therapy like pain management, anxiety management and family support.Related: Cara Brindisi on The Voice: Power of music motivates Worcester resident
At the same time, she was taking part in a legacy work with others like writing songs or creating music projects that helped people pass something down to their loved ones. She even had a hand in working with children and adults with developmental disabilities through music.
Its not just about using music to make people feel happy. Its really about reaching clinical goals for someone, she said.The pandemic
Unfortunately, the 2020 pandemic paused her professional and musical career. Like many others at the time, Brindisi was let go from her job and had many singing gigs canceled, but she managed to find a way to provide relief not just to herself, but to others.
I thought to myself, how do we still bring music to people? she asked.
Brindisi started Singing Telegrams, a project singing dedication songs in peoples driveways with a battery-powered speaker, performing for those who were isolated from the outside.
Her door-to-door free performances caught the eye of the Worcester Senior Center. They asked her to do virtual music therapy sessions.
I love doing what I do but its because I want other people to feel something. Even to just be at peace for a moment has always been my goal, she stated. Im going to always look back at that time and be so grateful people took advantage of that thing that I was doing.The Voice
But as rewarding as music therapy was, it was time for Brindisi to take her love for music to the next level.
After a series of road bumps in her personal and professional life, combined with the hit of the pandemic, she took a pause from the work in music therapy to chase her dreams on The Voice. Her work in hospice might have actually initiated her sudden career path switch.
I started to realize that if I didnt go for this other dream career of mine then I might regret it later on in life. Working in hospice made me look at that differently like what am i going to be thinking of in my last days? Am I missing something that I wouldve wanted to do? she questioned. I would say that trying out for The Voice was on that list.
After years of Brindisis loved ones encouraging her to do the show she said if I dont ever at least try, I think Id be very regretful of that.Related: The Voice: Where you can see Worcester contestant Cara Brindisi perform
Now, the singer has said she is putting 110% of her time and energy into building a music career but her background in music therapy will hopefully help her capitalize on any challenge that comes her way.
My experience as a music therapist is what parlayed into my performing life. As a music therapist, you have to learn new songs every day so my repertoire became very large and a very wide range. You go to a gig at a restaurant and you realize okay now I can actually work the crowd because I have this range and I can understand people, she said. That really correlates with how you perform on stage.