Dr. Rebecca Rivera

Bassoonist and educator Dr Rebecca Rivera has spent more than 25 years performing, teaching and building community through music.

Originally from Long Beach, California, Rebecca moved to Canberra and has since become an active part of the city’s musical life. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in bassoon performance from the University of Southern California, with doctoral emphasis areas in music education, musicology and music theory.

Rebecca’s professional experience includes performances with a wide range of ensembles, including the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Pasadena Symphony and Pops, and Pacific Symphony, as well as recital performances with the woodwind trio Third Wheel. She currently performs with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra and the National Capital Orchestra. Her experience performing in a variety of musical settings continues to shape her collaborative and practical approach to teaching.

Equally dedicated to education and community music-making, Rebecca currently teaches bassoon at Canberra Grammar School and Radford College. Her previous academic appointments include Adjunct Professor of Bassoon and Chamber Music at Chapman University and Lecturer in Reed-making at the University of Southern California. She has also taught Music Appreciation and Rock History courses within the Los Angeles Community College District.

Rebecca is passionate about access to music education and creating supportive, engaging learning environments that encourage creativity, confidence and collaboration. Before moving to Canberra, she served as Program Manager of the Long Beach Harmony Project, a community music program providing free instruments, music instruction and academic support for students in underserved communities. She believes music education is rooted in mentorship, curiosity and helping students become thoughtful, independent musicians.

Rebecca lives in Kingston with her husband, Rod, their cavoodles, Kingston and Phoebe, and Kevin the cat. For Rebecca, music has always been more than a profession. It has shaped her community, friendships and personal life. She met Rod through a shared love of vinyl records, and outside teaching and performing, she enjoys yoga, attending concerts and collecting records with him.