Rachael is a professional musician based in Halifax (kjipuktuk), Canada, who practices as a voice coach, background & session vocalist, and vocal health educator specializing in Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) pedagogy. Rachael has a Bachelor of Arts studying Voice Performance from Dalhousie University's Fountain School of Performing Arts. Rachael also holds a certificate in Teaching Popular Music in the Classroom from Berklee College of Music and has an accredited certification in Vocal Health First Aid (VHE/UK). Rachael is currently completing her Master of Arts in Voice Pedagogy from the University of Essex (UK) and is scheduled to graduate in 2026. In addition to her accredited programs, Rachael has also completed certificate courses from the Voice Study Centre (UK) in Teaching Belt Vocals Effectively & Safely, Vibrato and non-Vibrato singing and has participated in online study events including Gender & Voice with Liz Jackson-Hearns and recently engaged in their Long Covid & Singers study. |
Rachael is passionate about learning and staying up to date with the newest voice science and voice related studies. She actively takes lessons to engage with her own practice as a teacher and performer with notable figures such as Natalie Weiss (NYC) and Tyler Capa (NYC). In addition to Natalie and Tyler, Rachael has also been taught and mentored by Dr. Fran Farrell, John Henny, John Nix, Dr. Gregory Servant, Marcia Swanston, David Alexis, and Christina Murray.
Rachael's instruction has crossed several institutions, including holding current part-time voice faculty positions at the Nova Scotia Community College and the Atlantic Contemporary Vocal Institute, and past positions at The Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, Fall River School of Performing Arts, Perform Nova Scotia, and Halifax Regional Arts. Today, Rachael spends most of her time offering private voice coaching at her home studio to pre-professional and professional musicians.
Rachael is a current member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) (jury member in 2023 and 2024), as well as Music Nova Scotia (MNS).
In addition to her teaching, Rachael regularly performs and tours with local bands. She is the Lead Arranger and co-host for The Big Sing, and is a regular background vocalist for Aquakultre and Braden Lam.
Notable performances include 2025 JUNOFest with Braden Lam in Vancouver, Canada; 2025 New Colossus Festival in NYC, USA; 2024 JUNOFest with T. Thomason in Halifax, Canada; CBC's East Coast Music Hour with Noah Malcolm and Nicole Ariana (2024); the main stage 2023 East Coast Music Awards with Aquakultre; Halifax Jazz Fest with Aquakultre & Tank and the Bangas; Mosaiq Festival with Aquakultre & Maestro Fresh Wes; Grand Oasis Stage with Aquakultre & Haviah Mighty among many other national festivals; guest conducting with Foreigner; choral appearances with Feist, The Rolling Stones, Cirque du Soleil, the Nova Scotia Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Marianas Trench. A more detailed list can be requested.
Rachael's voice studio is a diverse community that welcomes students from various backgrounds. Her students include local industry professionals (both ECMA & MNS nominated/winners), professionals in Musical Theatre (Neptune Theatre & Grafton Street Dinner Theatre), hobby singers, and students from post-secondary arts institutions including Sheridan College (Music Theatre Performance), the Randolph College for The Performing Arts, Nova Scotia Community College Music Arts, and Dalhousie's Fountain School of Performing Arts.
Rachael lives a life dedicated to music, education, and the art of singing.
Rachael's instruction has crossed several institutions, including holding current part-time voice faculty positions at the Nova Scotia Community College and the Atlantic Contemporary Vocal Institute, and past positions at The Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, Fall River School of Performing Arts, Perform Nova Scotia, and Halifax Regional Arts. Today, Rachael spends most of her time offering private voice coaching at her home studio to pre-professional and professional musicians.
Rachael is a current member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) (jury member in 2023 and 2024), as well as Music Nova Scotia (MNS).
In addition to her teaching, Rachael regularly performs and tours with local bands. She is the Lead Arranger and co-host for The Big Sing, and is a regular background vocalist for Aquakultre and Braden Lam.
Notable performances include 2025 JUNOFest with Braden Lam in Vancouver, Canada; 2025 New Colossus Festival in NYC, USA; 2024 JUNOFest with T. Thomason in Halifax, Canada; CBC's East Coast Music Hour with Noah Malcolm and Nicole Ariana (2024); the main stage 2023 East Coast Music Awards with Aquakultre; Halifax Jazz Fest with Aquakultre & Tank and the Bangas; Mosaiq Festival with Aquakultre & Maestro Fresh Wes; Grand Oasis Stage with Aquakultre & Haviah Mighty among many other national festivals; guest conducting with Foreigner; choral appearances with Feist, The Rolling Stones, Cirque du Soleil, the Nova Scotia Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Marianas Trench. A more detailed list can be requested.
Rachael's voice studio is a diverse community that welcomes students from various backgrounds. Her students include local industry professionals (both ECMA & MNS nominated/winners), professionals in Musical Theatre (Neptune Theatre & Grafton Street Dinner Theatre), hobby singers, and students from post-secondary arts institutions including Sheridan College (Music Theatre Performance), the Randolph College for The Performing Arts, Nova Scotia Community College Music Arts, and Dalhousie's Fountain School of Performing Arts.
Rachael lives a life dedicated to music, education, and the art of singing.