Cara Brindisi Worcester’s Songbird

Cara Brindisi

On International Women’s Day, I had the pleasure of meeting Cara Brindisi and discussing her life and what led her to pursue a career in music. As one of Worcester’s most inspiring and groundbreaking women in the music industry, with a voice as eclectic and versatile as her personality and interests, it felt as if fate had brought us together on such a monumental day for women.

Female musicians were Cara’s inspiration from a young age and being immersed in classic singer-songwriter melodic vocals like Natalie Merchant and Norah Jones and booming Broadway leading ladies such as Bette Midler contributed to her unique sound, and genre range.

Cara noted that her main inspirations while a developing artist were, “Natalie Merchant, Sarah McLachlan, Alison Krause, and Norah Jones. Personally, my inspiration was my voice teacher, Chas Kircher. He introduced me to a wide variety of music and singing and was a positive support for me…He then suggested Berklee College of Music and I was forever changed.”

Music has been Cara’s love from an early age, and she knew her career would involve music long before her voice teacher suggested she apply to Berklee College of Music.

According to Cara, “From early on, music was all I did. Community theatre, choirs, music lessons. By the time college came around, my only application went to Berklee College of Music. I studied Music Therapy which led me to a career in that field, but once I graduated, I needed to make extra money. I had a desire to continue to perform, and it made sense to work by day as a Music Therapist and gig in the evenings and weekends.”

Cara’s budding guitar repertoire led her to combine her Music Therapy career with performing publicly, “I was learning songs from the Beatles and Eagles on guitar for work and figured, hey, I should parlay this! These are great songs whether I am singing them to a patient or to a couple dining out at a restaurant!”

Cara has been performing and working as a Board-Certified Music Therapist and for the last decade and has found immense support in Worcester’s community. Her love for Worcester and the people who come out to shows is unconditional, “The Worcester and Central Mass community is home, family. The loyalty and support are like nothing I have been able to put into words. I see the same faces attending my shows in dive bars, upscale restaurants, and outdoor venues. The community is willing to attend live music no matter where it is. I am so grateful for that.”

Fans are not the only part of the community Cara is grateful for, she has found support and friendship within the circle of women who are involved in Worcester’s music and performing arts circuit. Given the industry is male-dominated, “my female friends who are musicians and performers in this city…every woman who has worked in this city has experienced massive amounts of chauvinism from some of Worcester’s favorite male players. Not all, but enough to create a culture that many women here are trying to break down. The women that want to collaborate, share, support...they are my heroes.”

As a musician, Cara had to find creative ways to market and share her music when the Covid-19 Pandemic hit and live performances were postponed and eventually cancelled. Thriving off social interaction and the experience of performing for others, Cara decided if her fans couldn’t come to her then she would go to her fans. It was this thought that was the catalyst for her Singing Telegrams, which combined her music therapy skills with her joy of public performance and songwriting.

“With Singing Telegrams, I was thrown into learning how to record videos and use technology… One song I wrote for a woman to her partner “Love In The Time of Covid”. She sent me inspirational words and stories, I put it to a melody based on a genre she enjoys, and together we collaborated for a songwriting session to create a unique, one of a kind, memento.”

Cara has shared so much of herself with us, and we are grateful for the beauty and elegance of her voice. Through one of the most challenging years we have faced, a light of joy has radiated from her and warmed our hearts as her music floated across our phones and laptops. Just as we have struggled, so has she. What has kept her going?

According to Cara, “To have deadlines and projects to work on keeps me very mentally healthy. Simply being among music and musicians is a lifeline for me. I know many can relate.”

We are grateful to Cara for sharing her thoughts on her life and this last year with us. If you would like to learn more about Cara Brindisi and her music please visit Carabrindisi. com or follow her on Instagram @carabrindisi.