Written by Kristen Zapata
Jorgie Ann Contreras, PhD, MSN, RN, CPN, has been singing since she was five years old, performing everywhere from church and school choirs to talent shows.
“Currently, my husband and I are in an acoustic cover band called Wasted Talent. We perform together in and all around San Antonio,” she said.
Her love for music extends beyond the stage, shaping her life as a form of self-care and family bonding. For the past decade, Contreras has had the honor of singing the National Anthem at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Cattle Sales, and this year she performed at a San Antonio Missions baseball game.
“My son plays baseball, and we are huge fans of the sport, so being able to sing at the Missions game was such an honor and so much fun,” she said.
Some of Contreras’ most cherished memories include her children joining her to sing and play instruments on stage or at home.
“My daughter sings and plays the piano, and my son plays the drums and guitar every now and then,” she said. “During COVID, we used to do live shows on social media from our living room to help entertain anyone who was stuck in quarantine. Music truly bonds us as a family.”
Drawing inspiration from a wide range of artists, Contreras enjoys engaging with audiences by taking song requests to create an unforgettable experience, which even fueled her own educational endeavors.
“Music actually inspired my dissertation study for my PhD,” she added. “My dissertation title was ‘The Effects of a Music Intervention on Stress, Anxiety and Academic Performance Among New Undergraduate Nursing Students.’
Her research found that the students who listened to music experienced a significant drop in their anxiety levels after intervention, which was measured by a test called the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory or STAI. The drop in anxiety was very unlikely due to chance based on her statistical results (p < .001). The same was true when examining changes in anxiety levels, demonstrating music’s positive impact on reducing both stress and anxiety.
Contreras is an associate professor/clinical in the School of Nursing.