Worcester’s 10 Coolest People: Cara Brindisi, Singer/Songwriter

Thursday, January 08, 2015

Patrick Sargent, GoLocal Worcester Contributor

Cara Brindisi has been performing around Worcester as a singer, guitarist and soloist for the last four years. Brindisi performs several times a month at local bars and restaurants, and private functions and weddings.

Brindisi has set a number of new goals for 2015 and she is taking her time setting her performance schedule. However, she will be at Padavano’s Place on Shrewsbury Street at least one Saturday per month.

Brindisi said, “The part that I enjoy most about performing in front of audiences is that it brings all different people together. I appreciate that audiences of all ages enjoy the tunes I pick so I intentionally keep it varied. I like to look out while playing and see familiar and new faces from all different backgrounds and age groups. It just shows that music brings us together.”

Brindisi’s primary career is as a Music Therapist at UMass Medical Center. “I see firsthand that none of us are that much different than the next person. But it does depend on the setting. When I’m among musician peers, I’m almost no different at all. When I’m walking around UMass Medical Center with a guitar on my back and a cart full of drums, well, I suppose I get a few curious stares,” said Brindisi.

2014 allowed Brindisi ample opportunity to grow in her career as a Music Therapist, and she is looking forward to what 2015 has for her in that field. She admits that although she will not stop performing altogether, her focus will be on time management will be vital to both of her careers this year.

“It simply means making sure that I have the time to put in 150% for each performance. When I overbook myself, I find it harder to change hats from working all day in a hospital and playing as a performer all night in a bar. The first thing that goes can sometimes be the music and that’s not a good feeling. It’s also not fair to an audience,” said Brindisi.

Brindisi enjoys going to performances and watching other local talented musicians in the great venues, bars, and restaurants the city has to offer. She hikes, jogs and likes being outdoors, and considers herself an amateur bird-watcher. She especially loves the Mass. Audobon trails. She embraces her down time and loves spending time with her family.

She will continue to write and record music. Brindisi recently recorded a 5 song EP. She has even released a music video for an original song 'Okay.' More information on Brindisi and her music is available on her website: CaraBrindisiMusic.com.

Brindisi said, “It’s still a new process for me, but I feel like I worked out a bunch of beginner kinks, learned from some mistakes, and it’s motivated me to start fresh. Any musician who has released original recordings knows it’s also an emotional task and it can be a very vulnerable experience. I would like to embrace that more and continue to be my most authentic self when I release my next set of songs.”

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