Mezzo-soprano Laurie Rubin performs on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage on Monday in a program that defines her life. Blind since birth, she fell in love with music early in childhood and focused on the belief that a professional singing career was not a mere dream but a true possibility.

Her latest recording — “Do You Dream in Color?” — is also the title of her book for young adults, “Do You Dream in Color?: Insights from a Girl without Sight.” Composer Bruce Adolphe based the album on a poem Laurie wrote to describe her daily experiences and encounters with men and women wondering how she manages so well on her own. Not only does she apply her own makeup, but she also designs and makes jewelry.