We were delighted to welcome professional flute player, Dr Rachel Smith, into school last week for Part I of a Flute Master Class with a group of Senior School Music students.
Dr Smith, who has many years’ experience as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, has performed at venues ranging from major concert halls, such as the Royal Albert Hall, to weddings and more intimate celebrations. Having studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and Royal Holloway, University of London, Rachel has a Doctor of Medical Arts degree in Performance from Salford University.
Concerto and recital performances have taken her around Europe and to Japan, Zimbabwe, Canada and the USA. In the UK she has given recitals at the Fairfield Halls, St John’s Smith Square, the National Theatre, the National Gallery, Kensington Palace and the Royal Pavilion Brighton to critical acclaim. Rachel has taught at Junior Trinity, St Helen’s School Northwood, Brighton College, East Sussex and East Sussex Music Services. She gives private lessons for beginners to postgraduate music college and University level and beyond. She has also coached Brighton Youth Orchestra Wind section, participated in workshops with the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Education programme and given master classes in the UK and Japan.
The workshop focused on our individual students’ skills sets and experiences. Dr Smith will coach the girls on specific music pieces in preparation for the Flute Master Class (Part II), which will be part of the Arts Festival season in the summer term. We are grateful to Dr Smith for her bespoke professional support for our musicians.
