Music researcher and digital producer
All Classical Radio, Portland, Ore.
Age: 34
In three words: “Kind, scholarly, inclusive”
What colleagues say: In her two years in public media, Rebecca Richardson successfully launched an internal research database with articles about classical music that span the medieval to modernism eras and every composer in between.
Last fall, Rebecca led the launch of All Classical’s Artist Anthology: 40 Creatives of the Pacific Northwest, our newest initiative to uplift artists and diversify our offerings. Rebecca flawlessly manages collaborations between artists, authors, photographers and staff at the station while creating the most visually stunning final product possible for our readers. Her greatest impact has been the inclusion of new voices on our airwaves, previously overlooked in the classical music industry, and the deeper breadth of knowledge every host shares on the air.
What Rebecca says
Decision to work in public media: I come from a background in opera performance and music education. After several years, the grind of seeking gig work as a performer wasn’t as fulfilling, but I knew my passion remained for music education and building community around this beloved art form.
Enter a job posting by All Classical for a music researcher and digital producer. It was such a fortuitous opportunity — a chance to work within the realm of music in a more sustainable (for me, at least) capacity. Two years later, I’ve never felt more aligned in my professional career.
Key accomplishments: Managing All Classical’s Artist Anthology. This massive project spotlighting 40 trailblazing contemporary creatives of the Pacific Northwest has been years in the making and is unlike anything we’ve ever produced at the station. It stretched me beyond anything I’ve ever done, from managing the logistical puzzle of coordinating over 80 artist interviews and photoshoots to learning the ins and outs of publishing a book.
Another highlight has been contributing the liner notes for albums produced for the Recording Inclusivity Initiative, which created high-quality recordings of classical music works by composers from historically marginalized communities.
Inspired by: My colleagues at All Classical. Their boundless creativity, cleverness and innovation are beautifully grounded in a vision for changing the world for the better.
Advice for young public media professionals: Lead with curiosity — always. Being open and receptive to new paths, skills and opportunities has been, in my experience, the most successful method of carving out a truly fulfilling career path.
Advice for public media leaders: Ample mentorship opportunities are the best investment a leader can make in their team. We are so hungry for opportunities to work with experts in our fields and learn from them.
Leading by example is not an aspiration — it’s a requirement. If you’re not willing to be a true team player, you will have a hard time earning the respect of your team and cultivating meaningful collaboration.