Raquel Rubi
Music: Composition; Music: Vocal
A Cuban soprano and native of Havana, Raquel Rubi completed studies of Piano and Composition with the prestigious composer Harold Gramatges at Havana’s Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) and started vocal studies with the soprano María Eugenia Barrios.
During her early professional years, Rubí performed with the early music ensemble “Ars Longa” on Latin-American tours and festivals such as Cervantes en todas partes in Guanajuato, Mexico, and recorded the album “El eco de Indias.” Later on, she founded and directed “El Gremio,” an ensemble that combined early music with acting and dancing in the minstrel company style.
Rubí’s solo career started in Havana, Cuba, in 2001. Two years later, her acting career launched when she was cast in the internationally awarded film Scent of Oak by Rigoberto Lopez, winning her the “Caricato 2003” award for the Best Actress in Supporting Role. After arriving in the United States, Rubí achieved a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance at the Florida International University in 2009 and continued seeking her professional growth while pursuing a Doctorate in Musical Arts at the University of Miami in 2016.
The soprano has performed opera, operetta, and zarzuela with Frost Opera Theater, Miami Lyric Opera, and Sociedad Pro-Arte Grateli. Also, Dr.Rubí has produced concerts like “Estampas de Zarzuela” in 2013, “Women in Opera” in 2014, and “The Very Many Mary Poppins” in 2019 as part of the Miami World Music Festival, involving children and young talents in all her productions.
Rubí’s original composition “Hosanna” was premiered in Carlos Barba’s film Humberto official selection at La Costa Film Festival in San Diego, California in 2015. Along with her performing career, Dr. Rubí is a Classical Voice professor at MDC and founder and director of the non-profit organization RubiMusic, dedicated to providing performance opportunities for children and young talent, and promoting classical music to the community of South Florida.
Rubi’s research study and publication, “The Analysis of Salidas and Romanzas in Cuban Zarzuela,” provides useful tools for singers who are willing to face that repertoire. Other areas of interest are the Hispanic repertoire, diction, and performance of Ibero-American art songs.
