Eliza Rubenstein
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, CA USA
"Relax. It’s going to be okay. You’re going to come out of this okay with a job that you like and a life that you’re happy with."
Career Roadmap
Eliza's work combines: Music, Education, and Teaching / Mentoring
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
English Language and Literature, General
Oberlin College
Graduate Degree
Conducting
University of California, Irvine
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Music Directors and Composers:
Bachelor's Degree: English Language and Literature, General
Graduate Degree: Conducting
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
When I was three or four years old, I told my family I wanted to take violin lessons so I could play on the street corner for money.
2.
I realized in high school that I wanted to go to college because I knew I’d need a degree to do the sort of work I wanted to.
3.
For ten years, I worked full time as an animal shelter supervisor and conducted choirs as well.
4.
After spending a decade working around 75 hours a week doing both, I decided to just pursue my musical career.
5.
I’ve found ways to pursue my other interests like writing, helping animals, and whatnot in a more time effective way on the side.
6.
I’ve been lucky to have turned my hobby into my career.
7.
I am now Director of Choral and Vocal Activities at Orange Coast College and the Artistic Director of the Orange County Women's Chorus and the Long Beach Chorale and Chamber Orchestra.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
Classical music is just for rich white people.
How I responded:
I challenge this stereotype a lot when I am teaching and I'm passionate about helping students realize that classical music is for everyone and to broaden the audience that has access to that music.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I went to college set on being an English major so I could teach. I started to fully breakdown after realizing that it wasn't what I really wanted. I couldn't write or read anymore and didn't know what to do. I pursued my other love of music.
Being a poor student and someone who was interested in the notoriously stuffy, upper class world of classical music was occasionally a challenge. I would get looked at weird or demeaned, but that inspired me to make music accessible to everyone.