NOTEWORTHY PEOPLE

RACHEL SHOUKSMITH, MUSICAL DIRECTOR

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Born and raised in Eastbourne, Rachel Shouksmith began her musical career singing in the National Youth Choir of Great Britain as a teenager. After completing her Music degree at the London College of Music, she remained for a post graduate year in Opera Studies and was awarded the Henry Baker Memorial prize for Outstanding Performance. During this time Rachel toured the world with NYCGB, was a founder member of the NYCGB chamber choir and represented England in the World Youth Choir. She also recorded several CDs both as soloist and ensemble singer.

 

Since then, Rachel has been in demand as a Soprano soloist, singing with choral societies and orchestras all over the UK; recent local events include Poulenc’s Gloria with Eastbourne Choral Society and Haydn’s Creation with Eastbourne Symphony Orchestra.  Upcoming concerts include singing Soprano soloist in Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle for Pro Musica Lewes. Rachel is also very at home on the operatic stage and has sung as soloist with several opera companies in a wide range of operas ranging from Purcell to Puccini. She has made several appearances on the Glyndebourne stage including in 2023 when she was part of the 2023 Glyndebourne Festival’s award winning production of Poulenc’s Les Dialogues des Carmelites and in February 2025 when she performed in the world premiere of Glyndebourne’s community opera, Uprising by Jonathan Dove. 

 

Rachel has conducted all kinds of ensembles over the years. Highlights include the Komitas Choral Society and Orchestra in London (in Armenian), concerts in La Madeleine in Paris and a private villa in Venice and leading numerous performances of primary school children singing and Makaton signing. Alongside her performing, Rachel began her teaching career in 1996 at Wellingborough School and has since been involved in all aspects of school life at various schools. She currently teaches Music and Singing at St Andrew’s Prep in Eastbourne where she and her family have been involved since 2003. When not doing something musical, Rachel can usually be found in the sea.

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