This interview has been edited for style, content, and clarity.

PCM: Why did you want to start studying voice to begin with and what do you like most about it?
KR: I used to always sing as a child and my music teacher from my elementary and middle school told my mother I should look into voice lessons. When my mom asked me if I wanted to take them I immediately agreed. I had always wanted to be a singer and perform in some way so to have the chance to take a step in that direction was so exciting.

I think my favorite thing about my voice lessons is that I’m learning how to make my voice better and I get to have a wonderful teacher that has helped me so much. Ms. Marine knows more about me than I know about myself. She has always been someone I was able to go to for help. She has been able to help me in both voice and life and I will forever be thankful for that.

PCM: What piece are you most looking forward to learning and why?
KR: I look forward to learning “Think of Me” from Phantom of the Opera. I have already learned this piece but I was never able to perform it as well as I wanted to. I want to be able to be taught it again and perform it as the role and pass my expectations.

PCM: We heard you recently got a role in your school’s musical. Who will you be playing and what got you into musical theater?
KR: My school is putting on the production “Bye Bye Birdie.” I auditioned for the female lead role, Rose Alveraz, and got it. I was so excited to finally receive a lead role in a musical for my school. Growing up, music was really important to me. My parents would bring me to all the newest Disney musicals. My first musical was Mary Poppins, but I think the one that made me want to perform and do musical theater was “Aladdin.” I remember seeing all these people dancing and singing in front of an audience and seeing how happy they made people and children, like me. After that, I became obsessed with musicals and started to watch a lot of them on TV and in person. I just loved the way that these actors and actresses got all of their energy and excitement from their audience.

PCM: Who is your favorite musician and why?
KR: In all honesty, I don’t have one. I tend to have a wide variety of music that I listen to. Some days it’s Rock and I’m jamming out to Queen and the next day I’m listening to J-Pop and singing in Japanese. At the moment my favorite musicians would have to be the bands Set It Off, Queen, and Mother Mother. I don’t know exactly why I love these bands but they are able to make me feel known and listened to. They are comforting to me while they might be unsettling to others.

PCM: What is your favorite memory at PCM?
KR: I think my favorite memory would have to be any lesson I’ve had. There isn’t a set one. I’ve always looked forward to my lessons to sing and talk to Ms. Mariné. Every lesson I’ve been able to talk and laugh with her and learn more and more about my voice. I have a lot of favorite memories there and have always been happy going there.