Alumni Spotlight: Kayleigh Moyer

Drummer Finds Success in Nashville’s Vibrant Music Scene

When Kayleigh Moyer graduated from Belmont University in 2015 with a Bachelor's in Commercial Music Percussion, she hit the ground running. Nearly a decade later, she's established herself as a sought-after touring and session drummer in the heart of Music City. 

Post Grad Success 

Moyer's impressive career includes touring with artists like RaeLynn, Reyna Roberts and Leanna Crawford. She's performed with industry heavyweights such as Keith Urban and Big & Rich, and her performance with Urban at the CMT Artists of the Year 2015 Live TV Awards was nominated for CMT's Performance of the Year. Recently, Moyer has been filming episodes for the current America's Got Talent season 19 with artist Roberts, further expanding her national exposure. 

When she is not on the road, Moyer works as a session player out of many revered Nashville recording studios, as well as her own home studio. She records and engineers remote sessions and product demos, writes and records commercial jingles, and offers online teaching at her own Nashville-based studio. Her recent jingle for Wilson County Motors aired across Tennessee this past year, with her appearing drumming and singing in the commercials.  

This June, Moyer was featured in an article for Billboard Country Update telling the untold stories of "sidemen" musicians who play with multiple artists during CMA Fest each year. 

Choosing Belmont 

This success story began with Moyer's decision to attend Belmont, a choice influenced by several key factors. "When I started looking at schools, the first thing I noticed across the country was the limited music degree options for performance degrees that required you to choose classical or jazz," Moyer explained. Belmont's Commercial Music program stood out, offering a broader range of genres and career avenues. 

Nashville itself also played a crucial role in her decision. "I wanted to go to college in a city I could see myself living and working in after graduation so I could begin networking while still in college and hopefully get my career started before graduation," she said. The vibrant music scene and the opportunity to start building industry connections while still a student were major draws. 

Moyer's connection to Nashville began early, with family vacations that included drum lessons from Chester Thompson, a renowned drummer and retired faculty member from Belmont, at Fork’s Drum Closet. "That was honestly the lightbulb moment for me," Moyer recalled, "discovering I could study with him full-time, live in Nashville and enroll in a commercial music program." 

Student Life at Belmont 

At Belmont, Moyer embraced every opportunity to diversify her skills. "I joined as many different music ensembles as possible during my time at Belmont because I knew I wanted my career when I graduated to be diverse," she explained. This approach allowed her to maintain classical percussion proficiency while honing her drum set skills. 

Finding a school with an excellent, diverse variety of dedicated drum set faculty was a priority, and Moyer credited several Belmont professors for shaping her trajectory, particularly Thompson and Director of Percussion Studies and Professor Dr. Christopher Norton. "Dr. Norton really helped make it happen for me," she said, noting his support in securing scholarships and expanding her classical percussion skills. “Thompson mentored me musically and spiritually through my academic journey, answering all the hard questions. He helped prepare me for what the industry would be like after graduation, and has continued to support and help me through today " 

Reflecting on her time at the University, Moyer emphasized the importance of diversifying one's education. "Success doesn't completely hinge on your ability to play your instrument," she advised current and prospective students. "I used my elective credits to take classes in audio, songwriting, PR in the music industry and general music business – ALL which have been vital in my career. These were all outside the scope of a normal ‘music degree’ but have been SO vital to my success as a musician." 

Belmont Connections 

For Moyer, Belmont's lasting impact extends beyond the classroom as her former peers have now become her colleagues. "It is very rare for me to be in a touring camp of people and not have at least one other Belmont grad on the team," she noted. "The friendships you make in college matter. The recital you play for a friend could lead you to being asked on that artist's gig years down the road; the audio engineer friend you record could call you for major sessions or help you build your own studio." 

“There are a lot of us going out into the world and doing big things, and it can be such a relief to lean on and trust friends we went to Belmont with,” she concluded. “Many of us look out for each other and support each other's successes and raise each other up. Music school can be challenging, but out in the world it's one big supportive community of creatives working together.” 

As she continues to make her mark in the music industry, Moyer stands as a shining example of how Belmont prepares its students for success in the ever-evolving world of music, offering not just education, but a launchpad for careers in the heart of Music City and beyond.