Harbour for the Arts

Episode notes: Building an opera career on my own terms

I talk about balancing life as an opera singer, arts administrator, entrepreneur, and single parent—and what it takes to keep going when you’re building a career without a full team behind you.In this episode, I reflect on feeling invisible in the arts, finding opportunities without an agent, and learning to celebrate my own progress. I share stories from auditions and rehearsals, including the moment my work in The Crucible led to a new opportunity. I also open up about touring, relationships, identity, and the challenge of making a performing career fit alongside family life.Through it all, I come back to what I love: the rehearsal process, exploring languages and cultures, and the feeling of connecting with people through music. I also share my new single, “Sebin Crudele,” and invite you to connect and tell me what you’d like to hear about next.

In this episode

• Building an independent opera career without an agent or large support team
• Balancing performing, arts administration, and single parenthood
• Finding opportunities and recognition through preparation and ensemble work
• What makes the rehearsal process and live performance meaningful to me
• Touring, cultural discovery, relationships, and staying true to myself
• My new single, “Sebin Crudele”

Timestamps

• 0:00Why I wanted to share more of my personal story
• 0:46Building an opera career without a full team
• 2:38Parenting and including my daughter in recitals
• 4:05Why mutual support in the arts matters
• 6:24Vocal warmups, coaching, and finding opportunities
• 7:46Working full time in arts administration
• 9:15Entrepreneurship and my family’s influence
• 11:15An audition that challenged my view of the industry
• 14:36Being noticed through ensemble work
• 17:57Why I love rehearsal
• 19:54The Crucible and an unexpected audition opportunity
• 24:46Touring, culture, and learning from travel
• 28:10Singing, language, and connecting through music
• 33:02Feeling overlooked and learning to celebrate myself
• 36:21Balancing family life with a performing career
• 39:09Relationships and life on tour
• 47:46Identity, alignment, and doing work that matters
• 50:15My new single, “Sebin Crudele”

Host Bri Cooper

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Can We Talk About ME for Once?

In this episode, I open up about the strange emotional reality of being an accomplished opera singer who still feels unseen. I reflect on my career path, the pressure of always talking about other people’s success, and why this episode is about reclaiming my own story. A BTS documentary unexpectedly sparked a deeper reflection on fame, visibility, and longevity in the arts. I also talk about stage fright, vocal identity, and the realities of performing professionally without a huge machine behind me.

Key topics

• Why I wanted this episode to focus on my own career and not just advice for others
• How watching a BTS documentary led me to think about longevity, visibility, and artistic purpose
• What it feels like to be an opera singer who still sometimes feels invisible
• The challenge of staying focused when I do not feel validated or recognized
• How I discovered my gift at age 12 through a music teacher and my parents’ support
• My journey from mezzo and possible contralto labels to soprano repertoire
• Major milestones including international opera work, Broadway tours, recital tours, dignitary performances, Carnegie Hall, Washington National Opera, and recording projects
• Why I sometimes want space to talk about my own opera career for once
• How social media comparison can drain my confidence
• The realities of backstage life, stage safety, and the physical demands of professional performance
• What nerves feel like before I go onstage
• The changing role of music and teleprompters in recital performance
• My first vocal solo and the stage-fright lesson my father helped me understand
• Why being seen can begin with deciding that my own story deserves to be told

Timestamps

00:00 — Welcome back and setting up a season of reflection
01:00 — How a BTS documentary triggered a deeper personal investigation
03:27 — Why artistic careers are hard to sustain without feeling validated
04:55 — Naming the feeling of being invisible in opera
06:59 — Working hard while still wondering why nobody sees me
07:28 — Discovering music at 12 with help from a teacher and my parents
08:24 — Major career milestones that should have felt more visible
09:24 — Wanting to talk about my own opera career for once
10:02 — Social media comparison and the cost of measuring myself against others
10:31 — How my online presence mixes opera, business, acting, and karaoke
11:01 — My first solo opportunities and the early Carmen experience
11:58 — My voice shifting from mezzo to soprano
13:20 — Auditions, Europe, and learning how opera works overseas
14:38 — Why repertoire choices matter for stamina and professionalism
15:08 — My first international tour of Porgy and Bess
16:31 — Loving the performing arts beyond opera
17:25 — Backstage life, audience behavior, and stage safety
18:53 — What nerves feel like before I step onstage
20:14 — Memorization, music onstage, and changing recital norms
22:09 — My first solo, stage fright, and the mistake that taught me a lasting lesson
24:24 — Being seen as a decision, not just a reaction
25:23 — Why the podcast shifted from TV to audio and back again
26:22 — Closing thoughts and where to follow me online

Host Bri Cooper

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In this episode:

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction to the episode and guest Jin Young Lee

(02:27) - The blending of music and storytelling in Songs of Love from Hawaii

(06:42) - Jin Young Lee’s early life as a cellist and transition to journalism

(09:28) - How classical training influences her narrative listening skills

(14:48) - The inspiration behind creating a film about Korean immigrants in Hawaii

(16:44) - The role of traditional musicians in the film’s storytelling

(21:06) - A memorable moment during filming on a Korean naval vessel

(23:00) - Broader conversations on Asian representation and cultural resilience

(24:43) - The powerful message about love and perseverance in immigrant stories

(26:19) - How her roots continue to shape her work and future projects

(29:08) - The importance of trusting the creative process and embracing career shifts

(32:56) - Where to watch Songs of Love from Hawaii and upcoming ventures

Resources & Links:

Host Bri Cooper

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In this special AAPI Heritage Month episode of Harbour for the Arts, Bri Cooper takes listeners on a vibrant journey into the world of Korean opera — an art form that blends Western operatic structure with Korea’s own deep-rooted vocal traditions. Bri opens the episode by reflecting on the beauty and complexity of AAPI artistry, reminding us that Asian and Pacific Islander creativity is global, innovative, and grounded in centuries of storytelling. She explores how Korean opera embodies this legacy through cultural preservation, cross-cultural innovation, and the emotional power of the human voice.

The episode continues with a look at the modern boom of Korean opera in the 21st century. Bri highlights the remarkable surge of creativity after the year 2000, when more than 140 new operas premiered in Korea. She discusses standout works like Chunhyangjeon, Prince Hodong, Cheoyong, and Hwang Jini, emphasizing how these operas serve as cultural diplomacy, artistic identity, and bridges between Korea and the world.

Bri also reflects on why Korean opera matters for AAPI artists today. Representation in classical music is still evolving, and Korean opera offers visibility, new repertoire, cultural connection, and opportunities for storytelling beyond the traditional European canon. For Bri, who is a Bahamian-American mezzo-soprano and cultural diplomat, this conversation is deeply personal — a reminder that music can build bridges across communities and generations.

To close the episode, Bri shares resources for listeners who want to explore Korean opera further, including the Korea National Opera, the National Theater of Korea’s Changgeuk Company, the UNT Korean Opera Aria Anthology, and online archives of pansori and changgeuk performances. She ends with a heartfelt reminder that AAPI artistry is vast, ancient, and deserving of celebration, and that the human voice remains one of the most powerful tools we have for connection.

If this episode inspires you, Bri invites you to share it with a friend and visit bricooper.net for extended content and behind-the-scenes insights. As always, she encourages listeners to stay creative, stay curious, and stay connected.

Host Bri Cooper

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Reaching the 100th episode of Harbour for the Arts feels surreal in the best way. When I started this show, I was recording in closets, cars, and any quiet corner I could find, just hoping someone out there would connect with what I had to say. A hundred episodes later, I can look back and see how every chaotic moment, every heartfelt message from listeners, and every creative risk shaped this community into something real and powerful. This episode is my chance to celebrate that journey — the growth, the lessons, and the joy of showing up as an artist week after week.

In the extended version, I open up even more about the behind‑the‑scenes moments that changed me, the episodes that almost didn’t happen, and the ways this podcast has held me through some of my biggest transitions. I also share what’s coming next as we step fully into the video era. If you’re loving this celebration, the full extended video episode — with behind‑the‑scenes, bonus stories, and my personal message to the Harbour community — is available exclusively for subscribers. Join my subscriber club for only $15 per month and get extended podcast episodes, blogs, videos, and discounts to my upcoming shows.

Host Bri Cooper

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New Partner 

LESSON WITH YOU 

We’re excited to announce our partnership with Lesson With You, a trusted global music education provider offering live, one-to-one online lessons in 24 instruments and voice for students of all ages. Their 60+ expert instructors hold advanced degrees from top music schools, are fully background-checked, and teach only their primary instrument. To celebrate, we’re offering all our followers/listeners a free 30-minute online lesson with a professional instructor—perfect for jump-starting progress, refreshing technique, or exploring a new instrument from home. Try your free, no-obligation lesson today!

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Opera is a dramatic reflection of love and relationships.

Valentine's Day can be celebrated in various ways, including self-love.

Toxic relationships in opera mirror real-life dynamics.

Carmen and Don Jose's relationship highlights obsession disguised as love.

Tosca and Cavaradossi's love is complicated by political turmoil.

Butterfly and Pinkerton's relationship showcases colonial delusion.

Self-love is crucial for artists and individuals alike.

Recognizing and celebrating small wins is important.

Buying your own flowers is a form of self-care.

Opera tells the truth about love and relationships loudly.

Host Bri Cooper

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• A nuanced discussion on Black History Month: celebrating identity year-round
• Marian Anderson’s historic concert and its ongoing legacy of racial segregation
• The love-hate relationship with Porgy and Bess among Black singers
• The disparities in how Black performers are treated and typecast in opera
• Personal stories of navigating privilege, entitlement, and representation
• The significance of Black composers and diversifying opera programming
• Reflections on roles, racial stereotypes, and expanding narratives in performance
• Supportive messages on community, connection, and small acts of kindness

Host Bri Cooper

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Opera is not dying; it's just gated and exclusive.

Setting personal goals is essential for growth and success.

Opera should be accessible to everyone, not just the elite.

Community engagement is vital for the survival of the arts.

Fashion and storytelling play a significant role in the opera experience.

Breaking down barriers can make opera more inviting.

The arts provide a space for reflection and detachment from reality.

Inclusivity in opera can lead to a thriving cultural scene.

Artists are shifting the culture by bringing opera to new spaces.

Opera is evolving and waiting for the right energy and audience.

Host Bri Cooper

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Takeaways

It's important for artists to reflect on their wins.

Rest is essential for vocal health and performance.

Saying no is a crucial skill for artists.

Every yes is a withdrawal from your energy bank.

You don't have to justify your boundaries.

Creating a sustainable singing life honors your humanity.

Your energy is sacred and should be protected.

Resting does not make you less committed.

Sustainability in your career can look different for everyone.

Protecting your energy is an act of artistic integrity.

Host Bri Cooper

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Takeaways

The new year is a time for reflection and reset.

Having a theme helps in organizing thoughts and actions.

Being unapologetic can boost self-confidence.

Artists should not accept unpaid gigs that undermine their value.

Gratitude should not come at the cost of personal well-being.

Setting boundaries is essential for a sustainable career in the arts.

Exposure does not pay the bills or support a career.

It's important to communicate needs clearly in professional settings.

The right opportunities will come when you value yourself.

Creating a 'not doing that' list can help prioritize artistic integrity.

Host Bri Cooper

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