A Kingston story, told in service.

Andrea Shaut is a lifelong resident of the Kingston area and proud graduate of Kingston City Schools. After earning a degree in Music Performance from Ithaca College, she returned home to pursue her music career and be close to her family. Over a 20-year career as a professional pianist, Andrea has performed throughout the country and abroad – from Lincoln Center to the Grand Ole Opry, from Greece to Aruba. Most notably, she served as pianist for the prestigious West Point Glee Club for 15 years and for the New York State All-State Chorus for 5 years.

Locally, Andrea has served as organist for The Church of the Comforter and Fair St. Church and as pianist for numerous local choruses, school groups, and festivals. One of her great loves is teaching piano lessons, and she has taught hundreds of students over the years. Andrea's mission as a musician was to use her skills to “do good.” She often hosted events to raise money or awareness. Two of her favorites were a piano play-a-thon, where she played piano for 12 hours straight to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research, and her family's annual Swinging Moments Cabaret, which has donated over $100,000 to the local Alzheimer's Association.

Andrea has a proven track record of dedicated public service and innovative leadership. In all that she does, Andrea is guided by strong values. That commitment led her to host a series of events in her home to raise awareness of causes she deeply believes in – racial justice, immigrant rights, environmental rights, and voting rights. In 2017, to give back to her community, she ran for the City of Kingston Common Council, where she proudly served one term as Alderwoman for Ward 9. In 2019, Andrea was elected President of the City of Kingston Common Council, where she led efforts to overhaul the city's zoning code, advocated for charter review, and modernized council rules and the city code to enhance transparency and accessibility for residents. She also established the Common Council Community Award to recognize outstanding community members. In 2022, Andrea was recognized as a Hudson Valley Business Woman of the Year.

In May 2025, Andrea graduated summa cum laude from Albany Law School, where she served as a teaching assistant, research assistant, and as a managing editor for law review. She also received the award for achieving the highest grade in land use law. She is currently an attorney for the New York State Unified Court System. In all her roles – attorney, public servant, teacher, and musician – Andrea is committed to serving her community with integrity and vision.