Monica

Rachel

Hey, Y’all! Wanna get to know me a bit better?

I’m a 31 year old singer, songwriter, entertainer, Arts educator & events coordinator living in Cincinnati, Ohio. Homeowner, cat mom, foodie, tv watcher (just finished Gilmore Girls for the fourth time…), and avid sleeper.

I’ve been performing since I was about 11 years old- I did my first stage musical and I was hooked! My high school years were spent in the theatre at my school and training on the weekends at CCM’s Prep program. To say I was “involved in high school” is an understatement!

After 4 years at Wright State University studying Musical Theatre, I moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. Relatively low cost of living and a thirst for something new were huge catalysts in this move. Living there inspired a deeper love of the outdoors- desert hiking is most definitely the best hiking!

Things changed drastically for me in February of 2016 when I was offered a dream job traveling the world + performing with Royal Caribbean Productions! Sailing the high seas was the adventure I’d always been searching for. Through my years with RCCL, I traveled to places I never dreamed I’d see in person- Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, South Korea, Tasmania, Hong Kong, and too many Caribbean Islands to remember. Getting paid to sing + see the world was such an incredible experience, for which I’ll be forever grateful.

However, my time at sea also proved to me that being near to my family + friends was much more of a priority for me than I’d ever realized. I made the decision to try out life back home… and boy, am I glad I did.

In 2020, I was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. The chance to work alongside my mother and her best friend in restoring a nearly 100-year-old building in my hometown… and turn it into an Arts Center. I’ve always known I wanted to find a way to pass on my passion for the Arts- this was perfect. Fast forward to February of 2023, and the Reading Community Arts Center is a fully functioning Arts Education and Enrichment facility, as well as a Wedding & Event venue. I now teach private Voice Lessons, Ballet to 4-6 year olds (yes, it’s adorable), Adult Dance Fitness classes, Stretch classes, Theatre to elementary school students, and more! It was no easy task, but we’ve done it- thanks to the help and support of our community.

Since making the choice to move home, I’ve also connected with the local music scene- by way of a corporate wedding band! Through my work with the BlueWater Kings Band, I have been lucky enough to meet and befriend some of Cincy’s finest players. I’ve thrown two successful shows with the help and talent of some of these folks, not to mention, gained a bunch of great friends.

I was even (not so) gently pushed into trying out songwriting… and now, here I am a year and a half later, about to release my first ever original EP! Life sure comes at you fast. I’m so proud of the work I’m releasing, and cannot wait to share it with all of you.

xoxo


“Every day’s another celebration, life is the occasion.” – Jojo