At the annual Brewster Education Foundation gala this year, Dr. Caity Piccini Massoud and her husband, Doctoral candidate Gerald Massoud, performed as the “Massoud Duo” during cocktail hour. Dr. Caity Massoud, former Brewster High School graduate and recipient of a prestigious scholarship from the BEF, was contacted to play and decided she wanted to give back to the community she was raised in, while setting an example for those with ambitious endeavors.
Her and her husband’s “Massoud Duo” is a fairly new creation that allows the couple to play the music they love and share arrangements of songs with the public, and cocktail hour at the gala was a great opportunity to do so. Gerald plays the upright and electric bass and Caity plays the flute--a passion of hers since her high school days.
Like most teenagers at this age, she didn’t know how far she could get doing the things she loved, but Caity had an open mind and took advantage of many opportunities along the way.
Caity is a perfect example of an autodidactic individual with a drive and a willingness to take risks--traits that have allowed her to surpass the many expectations she had for herself and her career. Among her many accomplishments, Caity was able to win an orchestra job and finish her doctorate. In the near future she will be performing with the Lake Tahoe Summer Festival in August, and she plans on auditioning for other orchestra positions around the country. But while Dr. Massoud has accomplished great things now, she still wants to explore and improve, which makes her determination and mindset authentic and adaptable.
Dr. Massoud’s story is inspiring and sends a positive message about pursuing one’s passion. When it comes to the treacherous journey of High School, Massoud says “putting in hard work now will pay off later.” The earlier you start building a “strong foundation” the less time will be wasted in college and beyond. As a courageous person herself, Caity motivates others to take advantage of opportunities that arise because “you never know where it may lead you.” When it comes to chasing your dreams it’s good to be a little gutsy; Dr. Caity Massoud and her success with the flute proves hard work and perseverance really does pay off in the end.