Andrea Sims, 2024
Vocals
This year’s recipient of the Kingston Chamber Music Festival Scholarship Award, Andrea Sims, majors in Music Therapy at the University of Rhode Island. Andrea chose URI for its brand new Music Therapy major, and as a rising junior Andrea will be in the third class ever to graduate from URI in Music Therapy. The 5-year program includes a rigorous academic schedule, and students spend the last year in an internship position.
Andrea began singing in the chorus in elementary school. In high school she attended a dual program for art in which she studied pop, jazz, musical theater, and classical styles. She began her career at URI studying classical vocal techniques with Professor Rene de la Garza and now concentrates in Amplified Voice with Atla DeChamplain. Using a microphone requires different techniques than classical singing, and Andrea studies many different genres and vocal styles including jazz and musical theater. Understanding a wide range of genres allows Andrea to better connect with her music therapy clients and the music they enjoy.
As a relatively new therapy field, music therapists work with a team as a part of a holistic approach to treatment for patients. For Andrea, this practice means she can combine her passion for helping others through therapy with her interest in music. After her internship, Andrea plans to take the state board test and begin practicing as a music therapist while simultaneously going to school to achieve her master’s degree. Eventually, Andrea hopes to open her own practice in her hometown of New Britain, Connecticut. She sees a need for low income and immigrant families to have access to this form of therapy and hopes it may help more people feel connected to therapy in a way they may not feel connected to traditional therapy practices.
The KCMF Scholarship Award was established in 2004 to expand the festival’s ways of meaningfully support rising young artists. It is the only award of its kind given to a music student at the sophomore level. Twenty three students have been awarded since its inception. KCMF is thrilled to present Andrea Sims with this award and eager to see where she goes from here!