MEET FOUNDER ANDREW KAVANAGH
Andrew Kavanagh is a board-certified music therapist and professional musician with a passion for helping others enrich their lives through music.
Andrew began his musical journey at a young age. He first learned to play the saxophone in the elementary school band. However, as is the case with many 3rd grade children, practicing was more of a chore than something he found particularly enjoyable. He often preferred to make up songs and explore the instrument creatively instead of engaging in more traditional practice techniques.
As he grew, so did his love of music and expression. It quickly became something that Andrew could not get enough of. By middle school, Andrew had begun taking private lessons on both the saxophone and the guitar. He started showing a particular interest in improvisation and song writing, frequently bringing compositions he had written to his lessons, often learning best through practical use of newly learned skills and concepts.
Throughout his high school career Andrew filled his schedule with as much music as he could. He spent his time playing lead alto and soprano saxophone for the school jazz ensemble, concert band, and marching band. He took music theory classes, continued private lessons on saxophone, guitar, and now piano, all while playing guitar and writing songs in an original rock band with his peers.
With the passing of each year Andrews passion for music and creativity grew exponentially. This led him to pursue a music education degree at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. During his sophomore year Andrew learned of a program between WCU and Immaculata University which allowed students to obtain a Bachelors of Music with a focus in Music Therapy by taking courses at both schools. Having never heard of music therapy, Andrew met with the head of the IU Music Therapy Department at the time, Dr. Anthony Meadows, to learn more. From that conversation alone Andrew knew that music Therapy was what he was meant to do. He had stumbled upon a way to integrate music with helping others in a creative and engaging way, how could it get better than that? This realization propelled his life forward in a new direction and guided his decisions from that day forward.
Upon completion of his degree, Andrew went on to complete a six month internship at Belmont Behavioral Health located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania while working part time for a private music therapy practice. After internship Andrew passed his board certification exam and went on to practice as a professional music therapist in a number of settings including private practice, in-patient and out-patient psychiatric hospitals, adult day programs, summer camps, schools, family groups, children’s day programs, senior living facilities, and hospice care.
Such diverse experiences have helped to shape and support Andrews belief that actively engaging in music can have a positive impact on a person's mental, physical, and spiritual well-being, no matter their age, background, or skill level.
Outside of his work as a music therapist, Andrew continues to write, record, and perform both original and cover music up and down the east coast. He has self-produced albums and EPs of his own work, singles and EPs for local musicians, and been the sound engineer for multiple podcasts and independent films. He has performed as a session musician on dozens of tracks in a multitude of genres using instruments such as the guitar, saxophone, electric bass, ukulele, piano, harmonica and voice.