What did you want to be when you were a child?

For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to be a singer and a performer. I loved acting, singing and dancing and would sign up for any class or workshop I could find. I would try to recreate any performance that I saw as a child and would sometimes make my own recordings of the soundtrack, singing all of the leading roles.

Show business can be a brutal industry. In moments of self-doubt or adversity, how do you build yourself back up?

As a performer, I have learned to accept criticism and disappointment. It would be easy to let the feelings of self-doubt destroy me and stop me from reaching my goals, but I have learned to accept the critiques and the rejections and use them to develop better techniques. I am the strong singer I am today because I have failed so many times.

What does the world need more of? Less of?

The world needs more opera and classical music education and exposure. I grew up with so much classical music in the cartoons and the media around me. Today, kids only get exposed to mainstream music that is very basic and usually only consists of about 4 notes or chord progressions. They aren't aware that greater music even exists. Many singers today are being aided by electronic amplification devices that alter and even correct their bad vocal technique. The world definitely needs less bad musicians and singers, who are elevated to a god-like status, yet have very little actual talent. Many of the singing and talent shows on television today have taught this generation to celebrate mediocrity and worship false musical idols.

What is your personal or professional motto?

"Don't practice until you get it right, practice until you can't get it wrong."

What would you do if you were given $100 million?

I would build an opera house that could be used to stage great opera and musical theatre productions. It would be accessible and affordable to the average person and would also be available to local companies to use as a performance space. It is sad to me to see beautiful theaters sitting empty and unused because local companies cannot afford to rent them.

What rituals could you not live without in your workday?

I could not survive as a singer without drinking lots of water and taking good care of myself. My body is my instrument and I have always been aware of how fragile my voice is. I don't smoke, drink or take any drugs that could destroy my instrument and keep me from singing my best. Also, I couldn't do what I do without the love and support of my husband of thirty years and my five children and one grandson. It is my family that brings me true happiness and gives me the motivation to become the best version of myself!

Rebecca Morris is a powerful, dramatic soprano who has performed on stages in Las Vegas and across the world. She can be reached at remorris3.wixsite.com/rebeccamorris.

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