RACHEL A. SCHLESINGER
>Music Educator
>Professional Violinist
about Ms. Schlesinger
A young music educator of growing prominence, Ms. Schlesinger has brought musical creativity back into the classroom. After moving to New Mexico, Ms. Schlesinger studied violin privately with Nicole Maniaci and participated in the Albuquerque Youth Symphony (AYS). During the 2010 tour of the AYS, Ms. Schlesinger performed in the Sydney Opera House. After graduating from V. Sue Cleveland High School, she received a Fine Arts Tuition Scholarship and the AZ Excellence Scholarship after her audition at the University of Arizona.
Ms. Schlesinger has performed with the Arizona Symphony Orchestra and the University of Arizona Shostakovich Quartet, being concertmaster of A Night of Intermezzi in 2014. In 2013 Ms. Schlesinger performed with both the Sierra Vista Symphony Orchestra and the Eastern Arizona College Symphony. Additionally, she was the concertmaster of the 2013 Sandia Music Festival. During 2014, she performed the Dvorak Bass Quintet and competed in the Solo Bach String Competition at the University of New Mexico Summer Music Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Ms. Schlesinger is the first teacher to participate in the University of Arizona and Tucson High School String Partnership Program where she works with students on violin, viola, cello, and string bass in developing musical skills and techniques through orchestral repertoire. Ms. Schlesinger has also been a
sectional coach and teacher for the Southern Arizona Honor Orchestra. From 2012 to 2013 Ms. Schlesinger worked as a classroom teacher, string ensemble conductor, and private teacher for the University of Arizona String Project where she rehearsed, conducted, and taught in-depth musical concepts to the top ensemble of the program. The final project of her top ensemble was to perform a completely improvised work while students individually performed improvised solos.
Ms. Schlesinger finished her Bachelor's of Music in music education and violin performance at the University of Arizona in May of 2016. This is her third year as the 4th and 5th grade orchestra teacher at Borman K-8, Myers-Ganuong and Whitmore Elementary Schools. She also teaches two middle school orchestras at Borman K-8. One day she plans to apply to schools internationally to teach music, teach English, and play violin. Her goal is to inspire others to be happy, caring, and passionate about their dreams through music and through being a role model. She hopes to share the happiness of being a musician and teacher.