NOTEWORTHY PEOPLE

RACHEL SHOUKSMITH, MUSICAL DIRECTOR

​

Rachel Shouksmith began her musical career singing in the National Youth Choir of Great Britain as a teenager. After completing her Music degree at the London College of Music, she remained for a post graduate year in Opera Studies and was awarded the Henry Baker Memorial Prize for Outstanding Performance. During this time, Rachel toured the world with NYC, represented England in the World Youth Choir, was a founder member of Laudibus, the NYC Chamber Choir and sang at actor Sylvester Stallone’s private wedding. She has also recorded numerous CDs both as soloist and ensemble singer.

 

Since then, Rachel has been in demand as a soprano soloist, singing with choral societies and orchestras all over the UK; these days she particularly enjoys singing as soloist with local groups, for example Poulenc Gloria with Eastbourne Choral Society and Haydn Creation with Eastbourne Symphony Orchestra. Rachel is also at home on the operatic stage, having sung with several opera companies in a wide range of operas ranging from composers such as Purcell to Puccini. In 2018 Rachel made her Glyndebourne debut alongside the Glyndebourne Chorus and recently performed the world première of Agreed by local composer Howard Moody there.

​

Rachel began her teaching career in 1996 at Wellingborough School where she taught Music and Singing to all ages, started several vocal ensembles, was musical director for several school productions, a boarding house tutor and an army officer in the CCF. Since then she has worked at several independent schools, teaching Music and Singing wherever she goes. She currently teaches at St Andrew’s Prep in Eastbourne where she and her family have been involved in school life since 2003.

 

Rachel has been lucky enough to have conducted and led all kinds of ensembles over the years. Highlights include rehearsing and conducting the Komitas Choral Society and Orchestra in London (managing to communicate with limited Armenian), conducting wonderful choral concerts in La Madeleine in Paris and a private villa in Venice and numerous performances leading primary school children singing and Makaton signing at the same time. When not doing something musical, Rachel can usually be found in the sea

​

​