Guided by her Norwegian heritage, Rachel has woven a vibrant career around her passion for music, performance, teaching, and Scandinavian traditions. She obtained her BA in Music and Norwegian from St. Olaf College in 2007, followed by a master’s degree in Violin Performance and a K-12 Teaching Certificate from Central Washington University in 2011. Rachel further honed her skills in classical violin at the Music Conservatory of the University of Stavanger, Norway, where she also polished her proficiency in the Norwegian language.

While the violin remains her primary focus, Rachel is an ardent Hardanger Fiddler, an aspiring violist, an enthusiastic conductor, and a novice improv actor. Her love for playing music extends to coaching summer camps like the Seattle Rock Orchestra Summer Intensive, Icicle Creek Summer Symphony, and Pipestone Music Camp. Rachel also leads the West Seattle Community Orchestras’ Debut Symphony, a vibrant ensemble comprising players of all ages with 1-3 years of instrumental experience.

Passionate about education, Rachel, along with her colleague Begin Scarseth, creates tutorial videos for Pizzicato Peeps, aiming to make learning enjoyable and accessible for all ages and skill levels. In her role as the booking manager for Oahu Strings, Rachel coordinates gigs when not freelancing in Seattle. Her love for travel fuels her aspiration to perform various genres of music for audiences worldwide.

VIOLIN Rachel is a prominent freelance violinist and teacher in the Seattle area. Engaged with 5th Ave Theatre, Symphony Tacoma, Seattle Rock Orchestra, NOCCO, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, and other local ensembles, she regularly subs with the Pacific Northwest Ballet and Auburn Symphony. Rachel’s chamber music credits include collaborations with Arcobaleno Strings and Puget Sound Strings. Her international performances span classical, pop, and folk music in countries like Norway, China, South Korea, and Kenya.

An accomplished recording artist, Rachel contributes to Seattle Live Entertainment, LLC, and Seattle Music Inc. She has collaborated with a diverse range of artists and projects, from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis to Cirque Musique.

HARDANGER FIDDLE Having spent her childhood in Stavanger, Norway, Rachel was exposed to Norwegian folk music, sparking her excitement for the Hardanger Fiddle, which she began playing at age 16. She became the first student at St. Olaf College to receive Distinction in Hardanger Fiddle in 2007. Rachel teaches Hardanger Fiddle courses, curates a dedicated YouTube Channel for the instrument, and records for video games, infusing new and old traditions into her compositions.

VIOLA Rachel finds joy in playing her viola, named Mabel, crafted by her brother-in-law, luthier Matthew Noykos. Her versatility shines through as she embraces diverse musical genres, from folk and pop bands to classical string quartets and hip hop groups.

Beyond her musical pursuits, Rachel enjoys outdoor walks and hikes, global travel, games, trampolining, socializing, dancing, improv acting, savoring local IPAs and wine, attending various performances, and collaborating with fellow humans. Her dynamic and multifaceted approach to life and music is a testament to her boundless creativity and love for artistic expression.