Today we’d like to introduce you to Regina Ruopoli.
Hi Regina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, tell our readers some of your backstories.
As a creative generalist, I’ve led a multi-hyphenated life and career as a vocalist, singer/songwriter, voice and acting teacher, vocal director, percussionist, actor, voiceover actor, artistic director, event planner, writer, marketing communications & PR manager. I have also explored everything from pottery to painting to belly dancing to coffee roasting for fun. I came from a musical family and grew up singing with my mom and sisters, as well as in a music-oriented church. I was shy, but I found my tribe and my groove in the choir/theatre communities in high school and college. I worked my way through college at a record store in the mall, which was more fun than you could imagine in the late 80s/early 90s! My degree is in theatre, with a focus on musical theatre. I’m fairly quick to learn, so I’m regularly adding new skills and abilities in my mid-life. Still, the commonality in my unfolding work in the world is simply channeling whatever bubbles up from my creative spirit, fortunately, balanced with my being detail-oriented.
I love nurturing children, especially in the arts. Palmetto Youth Choir is the latest manifestation of that passion. This longtime dream gained traction after a random discussion with my friend, Danielle Loveless. I first met her through Taiko Charleston, where we both share a love of playing this Japanese percussion art form. We were chatting after rehearsal one day and discovered we both had a longtime dream of starting an independent youth choir that was not affiliated with any school or church. So we joined forces, merging our visions and musical backgrounds into one!
We were about to launch pre-pandemic but had to wait it out. Finally, last summer, we offered a singing camp as a launch point and recruiting strategy and kickstarted this choir for the fall semester. It has been wildly successful! We far exceeded our initial enrollment expectations, and the feedback we are receiving from the families is very encouraging. We just had a beautiful first concert celebrating Winter Solstice, and it was everything we dreamed it would be! We are building a wonderful, heart-centered community where we have fun, provide connection and community, and teach music literacy.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The pandemic stopped us in our tracks. We were about to launch when it began and again when the Omicron variant surged. So we had to put the choir on the backburner twice. But that also gave us more time to re-calibrate and create even better structures and frameworks for the choir when it was time. There are quite a lot of systems and pre-planning that need to be in place for this type of business to run smoothly. I’m a planner by nature, and I’ve been pleased with how well it has gone. One of the other hurdles we had to climb was finding an appropriate rehearsal space. Being an independent choir, not affiliated with any school or church, we were fortunate and grateful to have partnered with the James Island Arts & Cultural Center. This beautiful facility was recently renovated from a former library building into a new space designed to offer artistic, cultural, and programming opportunities and showcase local artists and James Island’s rich history. It’s an inspiring space; they have been wonderful to work with and supportive from day one!
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your business.
The choir was formed under my business, Rosewood Productions, LLC. I established this company pre-pandemic to produce other arts-oriented programs and events. During the pandemic, I ran a virtual drama club, which was a hit, and a great way to help give kids a creative outlet and lifeline during lockdowns. I was even strongly considering opening my venue, but something told me to wait, thankfully. Then, when the time was right, the focus turned to launch Palmetto Youth Choir. There is no shortage of dreams and passions! Once we finish a full-year cycle, I’ll explore new projects; just a matter of narrowing down the flow of ideas. Whatever the following path, I find strength and peace in gathering good people and finding commonality through art and creativity. I’m ambitious about becoming an even better singer and musician. There is an album to record, events to produce, and gatherings to organize—so many ways to inspire connection, compassion, and joy through music and the arts. But I hope to strike a good balance between home life and hustle life, making things happen while holding to myself and my needs for rest and stillness. It’s all about balance, as is everything in life.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Tenacity. Grit. Sticktoitiveness. Doing the work, especially the unglamorous work. As they say, perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.
Contact Info:
- Website: palmettoyouthchoir.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palmettoyouthchoir/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palmettoyouthchoir
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC53hqtUU-C1BuPzH2BnVrTg
Image Credits
Shannon Oleksak
