Kylie Beevers | 2025 Sawyer J. Boyd Creatives Grant Recipient

Kylie Beevers accepting her award outside The Sunset Project office in August 2025.

In August, The Sunset project was honored to announce Kylie Beevers of Lachine, Michigan, as one of five Sawyer J. Boyd Creatives Grant Recipients for 2025!

Kylie is an aspiring music therapist inspired by her father’s musical service to veterans and her own transformative experience with music therapy during recovery from an accident. She is passionate about expanding access to music therapy in Northern Michigan and advocating for the field’s growth.

We recently sat down with Kylie to discuss her unique story, why she applied, and what she hopes to utilize the funding for. Check it out below!

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Hi Kylie, can you introduce yourself quickly to those who may not know you already?

My name is Kylie Beevers and I am from Lachine, Michigan. I’m a 18 yr old creative pursuing a Music Therapy major.

How would you describe your creative interest to someone unfamiliar with it?

Music Therapy is when a trained therapist uses musical tools like playing instruments, singing, or writing songs to help people express themselves, cope with challenges, and reach goals in areas like communication, movement, and emotional well-being. It’s actually a pretty new field, and fun fact: the very first college program for music therapy started right here in our amazing state of Michigan at Michigan State University! Right now, there are only about 195 board-certified music therapists in Michigan, according to CODAmt’s.

What initially inspired your interest in this space?

My inspiration comes from two places. The first is my dad, who used to take his guitar and play music for veterans. As a Marine himself, he served with everything he had. At the time, I didn’t fully realize how meaningful that was, but looking back now, I see how powerful his example of service was and it makes me want to serve others like that. 
 The second inspiration is my own experience at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids after a dirt bike accident. During my recovery, I received music therapy between medical visits. When nothing else helped me cope with the pain, music did. That experience showed me just how powerful music can be, and it opened my eyes to a field I didn’t even know existed. It’s what first sparked my interest in becoming a music therapist.

What's one of your most memorable experiences or milestones from your creative journey?

Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer alongside one of the only music therapists in Northern Michigan, Hannah Hoffman. She runs a small clinic in Petoskey called Remedies in Rhythm, and watching her build her practice from the ground up has opened my eyes to the potential for growth in the field of music therapy.
 Working with Hannah has been absolutely amazing! The impact she’s making in her community has lit my passion to become a licensed music therapist myself. I hope to shadow some of her sessions in the near future, and eventually, after earning my degree, I’d love to work more closely with her and her clinic.

Kylie, and her family pose for a photo together at the Sawyer J. Boyd Creatives Grant Recipient Ceremony in August 2025.

How have challenges or setbacks helped shape your creative process?

Personally, for me, I struggle with the lack of advocates for the field, and finding people like me, who are trying to build a presence before going into the degree. But thanks to the help of all those around me, I know that I have people encouraging me every step of the way.

How do you envision your creative interest evolving over the next year?

In the fall of 2026, I am hoping to attend Western Michigan University for my bachelors in Music Therapy. During this time, I would love to start advertising music therapy as something that will be coming to our small town of Alpena, and hopefully the surrounding Northeast areas of Michigan too.

How do you plan to utilize your grant funding to further your creative interest, journey, and process?

I will be utilizing the Sawyer J. Boyd Creatives Grant to fund the purchase of instruments for my business. A big setback for me is not owning my own guitar to take down to college for my degree. I will also be using the grant for marketing.

Do you have any advice to share with someone looking to pursue their own creative interests?

Here’s my best advice: strive to always grow, remember that you are amazing, and share your gift with others. Music, art, words, poetry…are some of the most powerful things. It shows people that they aren’t alone, and that what they are going through has been experienced by someone else. I am cheering you on and can’t wait to see what beautiful things you create!

Are there any social media profiles, websites, or other resources where our readers can follow your journey and support your work?

Instagram - @kylie_beevers

Is there anything else you'd like to share about The Sunset Project, or your experience in the Sawyer J. Boyd Creatives Grant program thus far?

Thank you so much Sunset Project for working with me! I am so thankful to be a part of a community of amazing people!