We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Derek Roura. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Derek below.
Hi Derek, thanks for joining us today. One of the toughest things about progressing in your creative career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?
Growing up, I lived in a tight-knit household with my two brothers, mom, uncle, and grandma. Although we couldn’t afford much as a single-parent household, my mom still encouraged my interests, and she invested in my music career by buying me a cheap upright piano on Craigslist—back when that was more of a thing. Of course, without enough money for music lessons, I turned to YouTube University to learn piano while in middle school and taught myself all my favorite pop, classical, and video game tunes; I wasn’t going to let any financial hurdle obstruct my path to realizing my dreams!
As it turns out, my dedication paid off and—much to my surprise—I got accepted into the piano program at Howard W. Blake High School, the performing arts school of my dreams. High school opened up new doors for me—I fell in love with singing and acquired extensive performance experience through choir, musical theatre, Glee club, open mic nights, busking gigs, and more. I even won Ybor City’s Italian Idol twice, which led to a local record deal during my junior year. I had everything going for me, and things were smooth sailing. That is, until senior year.
Halfway through my senior year, a whole lotta you-know-what hit the fan, and my family scattered: My uncle was diagnosed with schizophrenia and moved into his own apartment; my grandmother had a stroke and also moved out in order to focus on her health; my younger brother relocated to pursue his education after his school was rezoned; and to top it all off, my mom had moved in with her new man, foreclosing our family home and leaving me and my older brother to fend for ourselves. The family I used to rely on for motivation and support had crumbled. My older brother was forced to move in with our aunt, and I was forced to graduate early so that I could work a full-time job while living on my best friend’s couch. In the midst of all this chaos, I had lost sight of my creative vision: I failed to complete the contract with my record label, so they dropped me. It felt like my creative journey had come to a screeching halt, but I didn’t give up. After all, I had lost everything but my passion for music, so I decided to go to the University of South Florida, where I studied voice and songwriting; I had to prove to myself that no matter how much life tried to push me down, I was going to rise above.
Derek, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Derek Roura (pronounced ROAR-uh), and I am a passionate singer and vocal coach based in Orlando, Florida, though I also frequent Tampa and surrounding areas. With nearly a decade of teaching experience, I’ve had the privilege of coaching a wide range of artists, from rising R&B stars like Isaiah Falls and J. Lamaar to seasoned Equity performers from Disney, Universal Studios, and even Broadway. Whether you’re looking to improve your singing, hone your songwriting, dive into music theory, or sharpen your piano skills, I’ve taught students of all levels—from absolute beginners to working professionals. I currently teach at Westrick Vocal Studio, but I have my own private studio as well. So no matter where you are in your creative journey, I am here to guide you along your path to success!
When I’m not teaching music lessons or composing my own music, I can be found performing all across Florida and occasionally even across the globe! My most memorable tour abroad was in South Africa with the vocal ensemble Klassika back in 2019. Since then, I have also taken the stage at large festivals like Orlando’s Immerse Fest and Busch Gardens’ Food & Wine Festival. Nowadays, you can find me covering top 40’s hits in upscale venues, elegant weddings, private parties, and corporate events. Additionally, I work with rock bands like Rhythm Me Up and Hurricane Eyes, and I collaborate regularly with other artists such as Ced Lyfe and Maria Jade. As of right now, I am producing an upcoming EP album, and I would love to share it with you! Be sure to follow me on social media for music tips and personal updates on new music, new project releases, tour dates, and live performances!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
In an industry that measures success through audience approval, the hardest lesson to unlearn is this: Just because you aren’t well-received does not mean you aren’t good enough. I just had a vocal student go viral for singing Moana on a Delta airline and guess what? The internet was quick to judge. In fact, most people hated the spectacle, although everyone could agree that she sounded amazing! But like I said in my video response to that incident, rejection is the name of the game in any creative industry, and I am still so proud of her for putting herself out there. After all, if our worth as artists relies solely upon how others receive our work, then creativity would die. Art is an expression of the soul, and it needs space to take risks, to fall flat, to polarize—and sometimes, to be misunderstood. That doesn’t make it any less valid. It’s a reminder that our value as creatives comes from the courage to keep showing up, not the applause we may—or may not—get.
As for me, I have dropped the ball in more audition rooms then I can count; if I had let those moments of failure define me or crush my spirits, then I would have never realized my full potential as a working musician. I get to do this for a living not because I never faced rejection, but because I had the courage to keep going in spite of it. People say music is a universal language, but in reality, your music won’t speak to everyone—and that’s okay. Everyone has an opinion. Let them talk. Just keep staying true to yourself as you forge your own path forward in life. Someone out there needs the unique gifts only you can offer. In time, the right people will notice your bright light—and when they do, they’ll follow you out of the darkness. So, shine on, superstar!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Whenever I move my audience to deliver a standing ovation—or spark a thunderous round of applause in smaller, more intimate venues—I’m reminded why I decided to follow this meandering, unpredictable career path as a performer. One moment I’ll never forget happened after a show, when a woman approached me with tears in her eyes. I had played one of her late son’s favorite songs during a set, and it brought his memory flooding back to her. And although her story broke my heart, it also deepened my understanding of why I sing in the first place. My music isn’t just a source of entertainment for people—it can be a source of healing, too.
While perfect technique and pitch accuracy are essential skills for any given musician, the true heart of live performance lies in connecting with audiences and leaving it all on stage; when your performance is emotional, raw, and a little imperfect, people tend to relate to it more. Music has the power to bring people together from all walks of life, whether they are called to dance, shed some tears, share some laughter, or simply celebrate love and life. At the end of the day, that shared energy gives me a reason to step on stage again and again. As much as I love cash tips because they keep me fed and financed, praise and recognition feeds my soul far more! It’s a privilege to serve as a vessel for the full spectrum of the human experience, and I hope to continue inspiring a wide range of emotions through my music for countless years to come.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @derekroura
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/derekrouramusic
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/derekroura/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/derekroura
- Other: https://gigsalad.com/derek_roura_clermont
Image Credits
Pictures by:
Stephanie Moser
DZ InVision FoToz
Seraphina Visuals