Meet
Ms Rachel
DEDICATED TO DISCOVERING YOUR UNIQUE VOICE
Rachel Barker-Asto is passionate about teaching singing music lessons in a fun, yet systematic way. She celebrates each student's personal gifts and way of being in the world. As a child, Rachel was that student that had a natural interest in music, but found the mechanics and day to day practice difficult. Through many talented teachers and the support of her parents, she persisted and has found joy in helping her own students find joy in the pursuit of learning and performing music. Since graduating from Westminster Choir College with a Master's in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance, she has developed a studio that approaches music from a wholistic singing perspective. She excels in teaching music theatre and classical singing styles. Rachel has also been developing a career as a performer. She has been praised for her “bel canto chops, with a bright, lyric coloratura sound.” In August 2018, Rachel sang the American premier of Salieri's La Cifra in New York City with Dell'arte Opera Ensemble. Other roles include Queen of the Night, Adina, Pamina, Drusilla, Gilda, and Susannah. She has been a participant in the Caramoor Festival under the direction of musicologist Will Crutchfield, studying and performing operas from the bel canto period. Rachel is a frequent recitalist, often focusing on music from the 20th and 21st centuries. Performances with chamber groups include The Sebastians and The Paramount Chambers Players. Other solo engagements include various oratorio works such as Barber's Prayers of Kierkegaard, Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Brahm’s Ein Deutches Requiem.