With the release of her first album Stella Cole is making her hometown of Springfield, Illinois proud. Stella’s throwback vocal sound is a perfect match for jazz standards and show tunes. Her self-titled album “Stella Cole” was released on August 30, 2024 to a wide variety of digital platforms as well as on CD and vinyl. In the album, Stella puts her own spin on classic songs, including “Over the Rainbow,” “Moon River,” and “The Boy Next Door.” Stella kicks off a six-week U.S. tour on September 19th, beginning with album release shows at Sony Hall in New York City. In November, Stella will be headed overseas for a three-week European tour.
Stella Cole didn’t start out in New York City, where she lives now, or under the lights of Los Angeles. Stella grew up in Central Illinois, a product of the local theater community and Springfield public schools. Her mom Amy Ballinger-Cole is the owner of ABC Consulting, an education centered lobbying firm, while her dad Ben Cole owns Velo Mine, an on-line shop offering a curated selection of high-quality bicycles, components, and accessories for cyclists of all levels. Stella’s friendly nature and Midwestern values of hard work, perseverance and kindness, coupled with her talent, have contributed to her success.
Living in Shelbyville, then Pana, Amy and Ben Cole wanted the best education possible for their young daughter. They researched and discovered Iles School, a public magnet school in Springfield. The family moved to the Capital City, and Stella started at Iles School in first grade. Previously serving only grades 1 through 5, during Stella’s time there, Iles was certified as an International Baccalaureate school and expanded to include a middle school. Stella was a part of the first graduating class that stayed through 8th grade. Stella loved Iles and the close knit class and peaceful experience of just learning. She remembers having excellent teachers, which continued at Springfield High School, where Stella was active in the performing arts. During Stella’s junior year at SHS, director Craig Williams II cast her in the lead role of Belle in the school’s performance of “Beauty and Beast,” and senior year Stella portrayed vaudeville sensation Evelyn Nesbit in “Ragtime.”
Outside of school, the dedicated members of the Central Illinois local theater community, including James and Aasne Daniels and Leigh Steiner, and her voice teacher Sue Hamilton, became important mentors to Stella. Stella is forever thankful to Kari Catton who gave Stella her first lead role in “The Secret Garden” at Theater in the Park in 2011. Stella, who was in sixth grade, played Mary Lennox, an orphan from India who travels to England to live with her uncle. After seeing the show, Gary Davis of Lincoln penned a letter to the newspaper stating, “Stella’s singing and acting talent would make her at home on any stage in the world. She’s a true superstar and she’s right here in Central Illinois.” Stella has made Mr. Davis look very prophetic.
While spending a considerable amount of time participating in productions at Theatre in the Park, the Muni, and Springfield High School, Stella also excelled academically. After graduating from Springfield High School in 2017, she attended Northwestern University double majoring in Theatre and International Relations with a minor in German. The Covid-19 pandemic hit during Stella’s junior year of college, and she returned to Springfield to weather the lockdown at home with her family. Ben suggested that Stella post some singing videos on social media. Stella took to TikTok, where she eventually gave weekly livestream concerts from 2020 to 2022. Her posts garnered a large following and the attention of celebrities including Michael Buble and James Taylor.
After graduating from Northwestern in 2021, Stella moved to New York City, where she found work singing in restaurants and coffee shops and walking dogs to make ends meet. In 2023, she toured the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand with Scott Bradlee’s “Postmodern Jukebox.” Currently, in addition to the album release shows, Stella is touring with the jazz show “Some Enchanted Evening,” which is coming to the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts on October 25, 2024.
Are Amy and Ben surprised by the path Stella’s life has taken? “Not at all,” says Amy as she describes Stella as a young child standing on a desk putting on a drama filled performance, toy microphone in hand. “Stella is pursuing her passion. She was two or three years old and was obsessed with the Wizard of Oz and costumes and singing. She has always had an uncanny ability to memorize songs and she loves introducing her generation to these classic songs.”
To learn more about Stella Cole and listen to her songs, visit https://www.stellacole.net.
For merchandise including Stella’s album on CD or vinyl, check out Shop — Stella Cole.
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