Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Grace Rapoport-Cole.
Rebecca, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Toronto, Canada. As a young kid with a love of music and performing, I ended up pursuing classical music- first as a pianist and then as an opera singer. I studied Opera in college but had a nagging feeling that I had perhaps not found my “thing.” I moved to New York about three years ago and was fortunate enough to start working and building an artistic community right away. About six months in, I found myself on a film set and had my “ah-ha!” moment. On-camera work has felt like the right fit for me and I feel very fortunate to be working in an area that I love.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always smooth. Overall, would you say things have been smooth for you?
Smooth?! Define “Smooth”. Is that a word that can actually be used to describe a career in the arts?!
Nope- not smooth. But interesting and full of adventure.
For much of my early artistic life, I felt highly motivated and yet not quite on-course. I was eager to practice singing hours a day, study and learn all I could, but I also knew somewhere deep down that I had not found the right avenue to perform.
I felt that I had to keep investing in classical music as a career because I had already invested so much in it. However, when I finally allowed myself to try something different, I realized opening myself up to new possibilities was much less scary than I thought it would be and was rewarding almost immediately.
Any advice for other women, particularly young women who are just starting their journey?
My advice to other women venturing out is fear not if the road is not smooth! Some pretty wonderful opportunities came my way while I was finding my way.
While completing my graduate work in Opera, I started working at the North End Music and Performing Arts Center. NEMPAC is a 501(c)(3) community music school and a professional performing arts center with a strong focus on serving the City of Boston by making quality music and arts programming accessible for all. Through NEMPAC, executive Director Sherri Snow and I were able to co-found the NEMPAC Opera Project- An Opera company dedicated to bringing opportunity to local artists as well as affordable Opera to the Boston area.
The Opera Project, now under the Artistic Direction of Alexandra Dietrich, continues to be a thriving local opera company and is a very special part of Boston’s classical music scene, as well as one of the artistic achievements I am most proud of.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rebeccarapoportcole.com/
- Email: rebecca.rapoport.cole@gmail.com
- Instagram: @rebecca.rapoport.cole
- Facebook: Rebecca Rapoport-Cole
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9355734/
Image Credit:
Headshot: Joseph Moran Photography
Beauty Tribe Shots: SIRK Productions-John Sikes and Koehl Ehlers
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
