Biography

Rachel Skinner was born in Cheshire and educated at Bristol University where she read music. Since graduating in 1992 she has established a career as a soloist and singing teacher, based in the Midlands and South West.

As a soloist, she has performed widely with many groups including numerous choral societies and chamber choirs. Highlights include the soprano solo in a live broadcast of Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert on BBC Radio 4, and a performance of Duruflé’s Requiem in St Martin-in-the-Fields.

She has appeared many times as a solo guest artist with the Emerald Ensemble chamber orchestra, most recently performing Finzi’s Dies Natalis and giving a recital of Vivaldi’s cantatas. Her solo performances are characterised by an ability to engage and transfix her audience, combining strong commanding performances with delicate and ethereal singing. In 2005 she travelled to Italy, giving recitals of French song and German lieder.

Her operatic roles include Liu (Turandot), Nanetta (Falstaff), Susanna and Barbarina (The Marriage of Figaro), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Pamina (The Magic Flute) and Belinda (Dido and Aeneas). Rachel has also performed in a number of musical theatre productions taking the part of Eliza in My Fair Lady and the role of Aldonza in Man of La Mancha.

She is widely respected as a singing teacher, and has combined her love of theatre and music to produce and direct operas and stage presentations with young singers.

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