Rachel Condry

Rachel Condry is an Oakland based clarinetist, improviser, composer and educator.  Her musical interests span from pop to classical to free improvisation and acousmatic composition.  She often collaborates with other artist, poets and dancers.  In 2005, Rachel made her Carnegie Hall debut with The Matt Small Chamber Ensemble, a group that blends jazz and classical approaches with free improvisation.  She is also a founding member of the San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra and is the principal clarinetist of the Golden Gate Park Band, the oldest civic band in the nation.  An enthusiastic educator, Rachel maintains a teaching studio in Berkeley, CA where she teaches private and group lessons in clarinet, recorder, improvisation and chamber music to students of all ages and abilities.  In addition to weekly lessons her students participate in one group “studio” class and a studio recital each semester to improve their performance practice.  Her teaching methods help students gain confidence and overcome technical challenges so that they may focus on expressing themselves more fully through sound in any genre or style.  Many of her students have reached a high level of playing and have gone on to be featured in local concerts, youth orchestras and competitions.  Rachel has taught improvisation ensembles at Mills College and has been on the faculty at the San Francisco Community Music Center since 1998.  She holds an MFA from Mills College and a BA and BM from Oberlin College and Conservatory.  More information about lessons with Rachel can be found at www.rachelcondry.com/teaching.html