About this user
I was born on September 17, 1985 in Hendersonville, Tennessee. My parents had relocated to the Nashville area after many years of performing on the road with a country rock band opening concerts for George Jones, Hank Williams Jr., Tanya Tucker and many others. Even though my parents decided to take a break from performing in order to start a family, music was still very much a part of their everyday life.
From the moment I was born my mother and father surrounded me with music. They would sing and play to me for hours at a time. This was just the beginning of my interest and love for music. When I was about four years old, my parents began to tour again on a part time basis. I would always be in the crowd watching, learning and waiting for the time that I could experience music like my mom and dad did, standing on a stage in front of an audience and being able to see the smiles on their faces as I sing and play.
While attending grade school, variety shows and school plays were wonderful avenues for me to use the talent that I knew was a gift from God. In high school I began to audition for plays, sing in contests and perform for weddings. I didn't know it at the time, but all of these experiences were preparing me for something even greater at the end of my senior year of high school. In early 2004 I was chosen to play the whistling, first soprano role of Mabel in Pirates of Penzance with the local community theatre. It was an experience that changed my life and prompted me to continue on the path of becoming a professional vocal performer.
In the fall of 2004 I was accepted to the prestigious Berklee College of Music as a scholarship student. Never in my life had I experienced so much talent in one place. The students and instructors had a huge influence on me as a musician by teaching me the skills I needed as a vocalist and helping me to find and explore my own style. Not only did I progress as a singer, but it was during this time that I first picked up the guitar and taught myself to play. With the guitar I was finally able to accompany myself as well as begin writing my own songs in English and Spanish.
While at Berklee, I began to explore other ways that I could use music to touch the lives of people in a big way by bringing them peace and happiness. This is what I found when I decided to study Music Therapy. Through Music Therapy I have been able to touch and help people with physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs.
I currently work as the Music Therapist at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, FL which is funded by the Fatone Family Foundation. At Arnold Palmer Hospital, I provide Music Therapy services to approximately 60 patients a week. Through this amazing program, the children are able to learn a new instrument, experiment with many types of instruments, write and record their own songs, or just listen to music for relaxation, all while receiving treatment at the hospital. Music provides a safe environment for the children and I am so happy to be apart of such an amazing program!
Interests
recording music, playing guitar, drawing, Spanish culture and language, traveling
hollyjlatham
favorited
3 months ago
