My name is Marissa Freda-Brown. I'm a military wife, full time student majoring in psychology, mother to three children, and stepmother to one. I was born in New Jersey in 1977 and moved to Alabama at the age of 16. Being a military family we move around often, and are currently living in Dayton, Ohio; however, I consider Birmingham, Alabama my home.
Music has been my passion since the age of three when I started taking piano lessons. I took formal lessons until the age of 16 and also play the guitar and flute. I didn't really start singing until I was 14 when I joined the choir at my high school. I fell in love with musical theater and, after graduation I attended the Boston Conservatory of Music as a musical theater major. I loved the school, but I was very homesick and also decided I wanted a more well-rounded education to fall back on, so I moved back to Alabama after one year. I still wanted to pursue a music career, so I spent the next six years singing with my guitar anywhere I could - open mic nights, bars, restaurants, and even on the street. I made of habit of surrounding myself with other musicians and learning as much as I could.
When my oldest son was born in 2001, I made the decision to put a potential music career on hold in order to raise a family; however, I never stopped singing. I still sang in my church choir, performed for friends and family every chance I had, and practiced my music at home daily. In 2003 my daughter was born, and one short year later I was facing a divorce.
I met my current husband in 2005. We were married in 2007 and our youngest son was born in 2008. We floated around a lot because of the military, living in Virginia, California, Alabama, and currently Ohio. We will be moving again in January of 2016, but we don't know where yet.
My father was diagnosed with cancer in 2010 and passed away January 7, 2015. I have always been a huge daddy's girl and losing my father shook me to my core, making me realize how short life really is. I decided I didn't want to have any regrets and that it was time to take one last shot at a music career. After all, my Dad was my biggest fan he would have wanted me to follow my dream.
Being a big fan of The Voice, I decided that auditioning for the show would be my best bet at getting my big break. Being a mother, wife, and full time student, I really don't have time to start from scratch again playing in bars. This audition is my last shot to live my dream. If this show doesn't launch a career for me, I will just continue in my psychology studies, hopefully incorporating my music and learning how to use music as a form of therapy. However, as rewarding as I'm sure that will be, I don't think it will ever leave me as fulfilled as performing would. I know that if I don't make it to the blinds I will be disappointed, but it will never stop me from singing. I've been told "no" before and it hasn't stopped me yet. And The Voice isn't going anywhere - I can always take it as a life lesson and try again the next season. I want this so bad and I'm ready to fight for it - I'm not going to give up easily!
Music is my life - it always has been. It is my therapy and my greatest form of expression. I just want the opportunity to touch as many people as I can with my music, and to make my family, and especially my Dad, proud.
Music has been my passion since the age of three when I started taking piano lessons. I took formal lessons until the age of 16 and also play the guitar and flute. I didn't really start singing until I was 14 when I joined the choir at my high school. I fell in love with musical theater and, after graduation I attended the Boston Conservatory of Music as a musical theater major. I loved the school, but I was very homesick and also decided I wanted a more well-rounded education to fall back on, so I moved back to Alabama after one year. I still wanted to pursue a music career, so I spent the next six years singing with my guitar anywhere I could - open mic nights, bars, restaurants, and even on the street. I made of habit of surrounding myself with other musicians and learning as much as I could.
When my oldest son was born in 2001, I made the decision to put a potential music career on hold in order to raise a family; however, I never stopped singing. I still sang in my church choir, performed for friends and family every chance I had, and practiced my music at home daily. In 2003 my daughter was born, and one short year later I was facing a divorce.
I met my current husband in 2005. We were married in 2007 and our youngest son was born in 2008. We floated around a lot because of the military, living in Virginia, California, Alabama, and currently Ohio. We will be moving again in January of 2016, but we don't know where yet.
My father was diagnosed with cancer in 2010 and passed away January 7, 2015. I have always been a huge daddy's girl and losing my father shook me to my core, making me realize how short life really is. I decided I didn't want to have any regrets and that it was time to take one last shot at a music career. After all, my Dad was my biggest fan he would have wanted me to follow my dream.
Being a big fan of The Voice, I decided that auditioning for the show would be my best bet at getting my big break. Being a mother, wife, and full time student, I really don't have time to start from scratch again playing in bars. This audition is my last shot to live my dream. If this show doesn't launch a career for me, I will just continue in my psychology studies, hopefully incorporating my music and learning how to use music as a form of therapy. However, as rewarding as I'm sure that will be, I don't think it will ever leave me as fulfilled as performing would. I know that if I don't make it to the blinds I will be disappointed, but it will never stop me from singing. I've been told "no" before and it hasn't stopped me yet. And The Voice isn't going anywhere - I can always take it as a life lesson and try again the next season. I want this so bad and I'm ready to fight for it - I'm not going to give up easily!
Music is my life - it always has been. It is my therapy and my greatest form of expression. I just want the opportunity to touch as many people as I can with my music, and to make my family, and especially my Dad, proud.