Easy Street Productions cofounder Maureen Collins sees Julia Cooper as the one who got away.

Cooper, a 21-year-old performer from Poland who is on John Legend’s team on the NBC singing competition “The Voice,” was one of Easy Street’s Little Rascals and appeared in its “Miracle on Easy Street” holiday production for eight or nine years, but she remained one of the ensemble players.

“I’ve been looking through old photos and thinking, ‘How did I not see you?'” Collins said. “There were just so many big personalities during those years … I guess I’m not surprised she got through the cracks.”

Collins made an impression on Cooper. She’s one of several teachers and mentors that Cooper mentioned in an interview after she was selected for Legend’s team during the blind auditions. And Collins continued to follow her career since Cooper’s time as a Little Rascal.

“Whenever I’d see her grandmother, Patty Alessi, at church, she’d tell me, ‘I’m telling you, she’s going to be a star,'” Collins said. “When I saw her on ‘The Voice,’ I had goosebumps.”

Amanda Beagle, who gave Cooper voice lessons for about two years starting when she was 10 years old, described her as a very determined young girl who already was writing her own songs.

“I remember her being very independent and already having a very strong sense of self,” Beagle said. “She would bring her own songs in to work on, even at that age. I remember feeling that she was different, and when I say different, I mean special.

“For a voice teacher with a child that young, the responsibility is to nurture that and encourage it. Sometimes people try to fit kids like that into a box. Her journey has led her to an original place, and it’s exciting to see what’s happening for her.”

Liz Rubino, who now lives in Connecticut, worked with Cooper from ages 11 until 16, not only doing voice lessons but also directing her in productions staged by Rubino’s performance studio.

“Julia was really fearless about working with her voice, and not afraid at that young age to just listen to what I would ask and absolutely try to do it,” Rubino said. “What also stood out is she had a big pop sound. She didn’t come in with a musical theater sound.”

Rubino vividly remembers Cooper’s performance as the witch in a production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” that Rubino directed, as well as her singing “No Good Deed” from the musical “Wicked” for a dinner theater concert her students did.

“If she can do this at 14 or 15, she’s going to continue working wherever she decides to go in whatever vein she wants,” Rubino said she thought at the time.

Michael Moritz Jr., a Youngstown native who now is a Tony-winning Broadway producer, has worked with Cooper at two stages in her career. She competed as an elementary school student in the Youngstown Superstar competition he created, and he worked with her in New York after she graduated from Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in Midland, Pa.

“I have to say that girl’s talent came gift-wrapped. I have no intention of claiming credit for any of it,” Moritz said. “Julia has a very unique tone to her voice that is something that is not teachable.”

When he worked with her in New York, Moritz said, ” I heard a great tone, great technique and great musicality as well. I think that’s why she’ll go far on the show. Her finger is on the pulse of where music is right now, and the judges are already picking up on that.”

Rubino was very happy to read that Cooper acknowledged the contributions of her past teachers.

“So many kids grow into their 20s and just forget where they came from in terms of training,” Rubino said. “I was always that person thanking my voice teachers, my drama teachers, and I was very proud she said those words. It makes her a stand-up person even more than she already is.”

Cooper’s past teachers believe she has a bright future, no matter how far she goes on “The Voice.” Cooper lost in her head-to-head battle against John Holiday on the episode that aired Tuesday, but Legend used his only save to keep her in the competition. She will have to get the most votes from viewers in a knock-out round against the singers saved by the other three judges in order to continue.

“I’ve never voted on this show, but I’ll be sending out a hashtag, let’s really get on board for this forever Rascal of mine and get her through this round,” Collins said. “Regardless of going on the show, I think something great will happen to her because her voice is so distinct and different.”