About Rachel

​

     Hailed for her “gleaming tone and Hollywood glamor,” Rachel Brown is a Chicago-based violinist, educator, and arts administrator.  Currently, she is the Chair of the Music Department at The Chicago Academy for the Arts, the nation’s premier private, independent arts high school. There, she teaches violin lessons, chamber music classes, and her unique Musicianship curriculum that explores music outside the Western European art canon while giving students a thorough understanding of music theory, piano skills, and composition.  In addition, she holds the Associate Principal Second Violin position in the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, and performs as Concertmaster with the Folks Operetta Company and as Principal Second Violin with the Whiting Park Festival Orchestra.  Rachel co-founded the innovative chamber group Ursa Ensemble.

     Rachel also performs with the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Rockford Symphony Orchestra, American Music Festivals Orchestra, and Fort Wayne Philharmonic.  In addition, she has been a frequent guest on the acclaimed LoftRecital series in Minneapolis and the Music Fridays and Noon series at the College of Dupage. Equally inspired by music outside the classical world, Rachel has performed with popular music and jazz artists ranging from Ben Folds to Michael Bublé, Sarah Brightman, The Eagles, Eric Lindell, Il Volo, and the video game Final Fantasy.   

      Rachel is dedicated to continuing the existence of art music by performing and commissioning contemporary works.  She has given countless world and United States premiers, has performed with ensembles such as Ensemble Dal Niente, Fifth House Ensemble, Eighth Blackbird, and has worked with world-renowned composers such as Shulamit Ran, Augusta Read Thomas, Bernard Rands, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Rodolfo Acosta, Anna Clyne, Jeff Kowalkowski, Geroge Flynn, and Mathias Spahlinger.

     Ms. Brown holds a Certificate of Performance and a Master of Music degree from DePaul University’s School of Music, where she studied with Ilya Kaler and held the Concertmaster chair of the school’s elite Symphony Orchestra.  She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where she studied with Lenora- Marya Anop. Additionally, Rachel holds a High School Diploma from the Interlochen Arts Academy.  

​​

​​