Bringing her musical talents out west
Andrea Ross Batson with her family at Cherry Hills Community Church for Christmas Eve Service in December 2023. Pictured left to right: Elliot, Andrea, Rebecca (daughter in law), Alex, Ross and Claire.
Music is an integral part of Andrea Ross Batson’s life today, as it was throughout her childhood. Born and raised in the south, Andrea was influenced from a young age by the church and gospel music, both of which developed her passion for singing and playing the piano. In 2019, Andrea’s musical talents followed her and her husband, Elliott, to Colorado, where Andrea teaches piano from the music room in their home.
“Before I took my first piano lesson, my mother taught me three chords on the piano: C, F, and G. I spent hours every day practicing, and quickly, I could play music by ear,” Andrea shared.
Andrea began formal piano lessons at age 8. By age 10, she joined her parents and sister in their family musical act, The Larry Ross Trio. During Andrea’s teenage years, she spent her weekends traveling with the family act across the Carolinas, performing on stage in churches.
When Andrea turned 20, she married Elliott, her high school sweetheart, and they settled near Charlotte, North Carolina, to start a family. Andrea was continuously active in church and became her church’s instrumentalist, playing the piano and keyboard. She directed the church youth choir and sang in the church adult choir. When Andrea became pregnant with her first child in 1991, she began teaching piano lessons, and her roster quickly grew to 21 students.
Their homebase remained in North Carolina while the Batson’s three children were young, but the family vacationed often in Colorado, as they enjoyed taking road trips through the mountains. When Elliott was offered a job in Colorado, they knew it was an opportunity to have a great adventure out west.
“At the time we got the job transfer we were in our fifties and agreed that if we were going to move across the country, this was the time to try it,” Andrea explained.
Andrea and Elliott chose to live in The Village at Castle Pines for the view of the Front Range and the surrounding pines. “I still feel like I am on a long vacation. Castle Pines and the mountain views have not lost the magic for me yet,” Andrea expressed.
Immediately after moving here, Andrea joined the Denver Chorale, and in the fall of 2021, she began teaching piano again. Currently, she has eight students.
Andrea and Elliott enjoy going to concerts, and during the winter they like taking their grown children, Ross (32), Alex (31) and Claire (21), skiing, while they stay warm by a fire and drink hot cocoa.
“Our roots are in the south, so we may not be in Colorado forever, but we will always keep a presence here,” concluded Andrea.
Andrea Ross Batson with her dogs, Sunny and Louie, in the music room of her home. Her loyal and lovable dogs always keep Andrea and her students company while she teaches piano lessons.
By Grace Caroline Roubidoux; photos courtesy of Andrea Ross Batson
