Her Story
About KaTanya
I've been in music and entertainment for 18 years, and music has been both my career and my personal therapy. After suffering a seizure and epilepsy, and having brain surgery in 2006, music became a healing force in my own life. I work with assisted living communities and memory care facilities throughout the Columbus area, where I've witnessed the incredible power of music to reach people with dementia and Alzheimer's. I've seen nonverbal couples hold hands and look at each other when I sing songs from their era, and I've watched family members cry as their loved ones wake up and start dancing to their favorite songs after sitting motionless for hours. I have a mentor who is a degreed music therapist, which allows me to operate in this capacity while I continue to grow my practice. My goal is to expand beyond just me performing to building a team with guitar players, piano players, and different musicians to meet the diverse needs of various facilities. I also work transporting children in the foster care system, and I use music and conversation to provide comfort during their difficult journeys. I was honored as an Unsung Hero by the Short North Arts District in 2022 for sitting on sidewalks and singing to people passing by. After losing my corporate job due to restructuring, I decided to step out on faith and make singing my career instead of just a job, because too many people told me I should, and I finally believed in myself enough to do it.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with KaTanya
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say having support is what I attribute my success to. I remember when they used to have Gallery Hop, and my two boys would come with me when they were in middle school and high school. They were like, yeah, we'll let you go be a street performer, mom, and sing on the street, but you're not going by yourself. Now, as a performer who performs multiple hours a week, multiple days a week, I have a husband with the same mindset - he absolutely loves me, but I'm not doing this by myself. He'll be sitting in the corner providing that support. A lot of times, especially as women, we all think that we can do it ourselves and multitask everything, but sometimes it's okay to say I need help, or to say yes, I will accept that help. Even in small things, like when I took my inherited grandkids to help trim my aunt's bushes, it was about showing that accepting help is important. You don't have to do everything alone.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say just to do it. A lot of times, there's so many things that tell us why we shouldn't do something or why we can't do anything, but just do it. If you can't afford to go back to school to get a bachelor's in music therapy or something like that, then do it and don't hold the title. Get a mentor that will show you how. Ask yourself, how can I help? How can I get myself established in doing something that's personal to me, important to me? I have friends who have family members with dementia and Alzheimer's, and when I sing their loved one's favorite song, he wakes up and starts rocking and singing along and dancing and enjoying himself. All of the family is in tears because Dad hasn't moved like that in so long. That's what makes it worth it - don't wait for the perfect moment, just step out and do what you're passionate about.
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