12/13/2017
https://www.facebook.com/immaculatahighschoolnj/photos/a.408408662546555.107174.210223905698366/1471126802941397/?type=3&theater
Grammy nominee Andrea Benham graduated from Immaculata in 1996. While there she played clarinet and sang in the Choir. After IHS she headed to Montclair State University, where she had an internship for Billboard Magazine in the special events department.
After graduated from MSU in 2003, she continued her songwriting, which she had started at age 7. Her goal was to keep networking in the music industry. In 2006 she got her first record deal with Miswax Records with an original song called "Reincarnation." It was her first song that got radio play on XM Sirius and KTU in NY. That same year she became a Grammy member, because she had radio play and "Reincarnation" got a licensing deal with Abercrombie and Fitch.
Her next step was to start her own label called DreaMuzic and release original songs called "Free, My Life" and "I Won't Cave." In 2010 she co wrote a single called "Dance With You Tonight" and sang on it.
"Dance With You Tonight" got her first major record deal with NYC TRaxx/Universal and she was up for a Grammy Nomination in 2011 for Best Dance Recording. In 2014 Andrea worked with Grammy Award winner Dave Clauss on "Flight," a song she wrote and recorded. In 2015 Andrea's career was put on temporary hold, as she recovered from injuries she endured as a pedestrian hit by a car. Musiccares stepped in to help her out, because she could not perform.
The following year she wrote "I Got This" which was signed to Trina Music in 2016. In 2017 Andrea also wrote and recorded a song, "Fences," which was also signed to Trina/Dreamuzic. Both "I Got This" and "Fences" were submitted for Grammy Nomination for Best Dance Recording in 2017.
Currently, Andrea has her own station on IheartRadio, Spotify, and Apple Music. She is working on her next single, "Walking in Weehawken."
According to Andrea, Immaculata taught her "the importance of manners, music, and family. I also learned that working hard and discipline would make my dreams come true."
