We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rosie Hunter. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rosie below.

Hi Rosie , thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

When my daughter was cast in the local middle school musical, I volunteered to do a vocal master class for the kids. Little did I know this experience would lead to my being offered a role at her school as the Vocal Director for their subsequent projects, as well as their Choir Director! My first year teaching at Carl Sandburg Middle School in Mundelein, Illinois was a truly special experience. I loved being able to share my love of music and passion for performing with the kids. Seeing their growth musically and personally from the start of the year to the end was magical. Middle school is a very transformative and challenging time for kids, complete with so many big feelings, changes, and life experiences to be had. As their choir teacher and vocal director, I felt honored to watch my students mature and grow musically and personally, while giving them a creative outlet to express themselves in a safe and encouraging space. I will be forever grateful my family was stationed in Illinois, and that these opportunities were extended to me. This summer I have reopened Spotlight Vocal Studio which I started in Japan, and I’m so excited to be teaching one-on-one voice lessons again to the next generation of performers.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Rosie Hunter and I’m a professional singer, actor, and voice teacher. I am the choir director at Carl Sandburg Middle School in Mundelein, Illinois, where I also vocal direct their fully staged musicals. I am a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and International Thespian Society. In addition to teaching at CSMS and running my private voice studio, I am a member of the professional stage union, Actors’ Equity Association. I am also very fortunate to be represented by BMG Talent based out of Chicago.

Singing is something that has brought me happiness my entire life. I began studying voice when I was 8 years old, and have been fortunate enough to perform on some of the best stages in the world including Carnegie Hall and the Tony Award Winning Huntington Theatre Company. I am also a proud military spouse, and this part of my life has allowed me to live abroad in Yokosuka, Japan where I taught voice on the military base and vocal directed youth musical theatre in Tokyo. I bring years of knowledge, study, and professional performance experience to all of my students, infusing their vocal education with tools to navigate the real performing world.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I became a military spouse, performing was something I had to put on “pause”. Moving around the country and world made it very challenging to pursue my performing career. But when we were stationed in Japan in 2015, another military spouse was moving away, and I was offered to take her position to vocal direct Mulan Jr. and Hairspray Jr. at Tokyo International Players. This completely reinvigorated my love of singing, music, and performing, and before I knew it I had created a voice studio and was singing with The Navy Band as a guest artist. When we moved to Illinois, I wanted to keep the momentum going. I started doing extra work on a variety of shows on Fox and Amazon, and I was finally signed by an agent in the fall of 2018. I continually audition for commercial, TV, and stage work, and have been lucky to have been cast in a variety of small projects. In August 2023 I started submitting myself to new agencies, and after auditioning was recently signed by a pillar of the Chicago agency scene, BMG Talent. I am so blessed to have new representation and very excited for what the future holds.

The biggest win for me is that my children see me, at almost 40, still pursuing something that is important to me. They’re hopefully seeing it’s never too late to pursue your dreams, or to put yourself out there and watch what happens. I hope they’re learning even though life will take you in many directions, and sometimes away from your initial goals, it’s OK to create new goals–and revisit old ones with wiser eyes and truer definitions of success. My break in performing was from 2008 to 2018, and now in 2023 I feel like I’m just getting started. I’ve never given up, I’ve just been patient, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

As a teacher, it’s most rewarding for me when I see my students feeling confident, joyful, and authentically themselves. Music is such an amazing gift, and when kids use their voices to come together as an ensemble and community it’s truly magical. I love seeing kids use music as a tool to navigate their adolescence, helping lift each other up through song. I’m grateful everyday I get to do what I love, and hope I’m making a difference and positive impact along the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rosiehunter.org
• Instagram: @rosiehunteractress @spotlight_vocal_studio
• Facebook: Spotlight Vocal Studio

Image Credits
@nvofphotography