A Melody of Passion, Purpose and Growth

A music therapy major and psychology minor at the Mary Pappert School of Music, Catherine says a Beatles song was at the center of a very poignant encounter she had working with a young patient in the Addiction Recovery Unit at UPMC McKeesport Hospital. “I think he felt ashamed that he was in a rehab unit so young,” she shares. “I brought 'In My Life' by the Beatles. We did a lyric discussion, and played through and sang the song, and then we started talking about the lyrics.” 

Upon asking if any lyrics stood out to him, Catherine witnessed the power of music therapy. “He just opened up and started talking about his past and all these traumatic things that he'd been through,” she says. “I think it was the line about friends, 'some are dead and some are living.' He talked about people he knew who had passed away from addiction and overdoses.

"That was the moment where I thought, 'Oh my gosh, what I'm doing really matters. I'm giving this young person an opportunity to share what he's thinking and what he's been through in a safe space through music,'" Catherine says.

With a musician father and a creative mother who taught art, Catherine's love for music was nurtured from an early age. "My dad was a musician growing up, and he can play piano and saxophone. I started taking piano lessons when I was in kindergarten, and that was kind of the start for me," says the 21-year-old senior from West Chester, Pa.

Her passion grew from there, and Catherine joined the band in elementary school, where she picked up the saxophone, following in her father’s footsteps. In middle and high school, she sang in choirs, performed in musicals and participated in community theater. "I was just a huge music nerd," she laughs.

This deep connection to music eventually led Catherine to the field of music therapy, where she combines her love of music with a desire to help others. “I initially heard about Duquesne because of their music therapy program,” she recalls, “and when I visited, I immediately fell in love with the campus and the city of Pittsburgh.”

She felt a greater sense of purpose at her first Music Therapy Orientation class. “I learned so much about who we serve, different music therapy methods, and the field in general,” she explains. “I’m very grateful to Duquesne and the music therapy faculty for creating a curriculum that got me involved in my major right away.”

Associate Music Therapy Professor Dr. Noah Potvin has trusted in Catherine’s potential and mentored her on her academic journey. She and her classmates were introduced to new possibilities on a study abroad Maymester program in Italy led by Potvin. Developing personally and professionally, the group took art and music courses, toured cities, historical sites and museums like the Museo del Violino, and attended many concerts

“I was exposed to so many different styles of music. I learned so much about myself, what I’m truly interested in and gained a new perspective on other cultures,” Catherine smiles.

A Music Student Ambassador, Catherine is an active member of the Music Therapy Student Association and even presented Developing Entry-Level Clinical Musicianship through Song Interpretation at the professional organization’s annual conference. “The music therapy program is such a tight-knit community, and that’s due to the environment created by the professors and their desire for us to succeed,” she adds.

Reflecting on her time here, Catherine is proud of her academic achievements and personal growth. “Duquesne has helped me come out of my shell and given me confidence to be my truest self,” she admits. “I am most proud of the person I have become throughout my whole college experience!”