A versatile and engaging performer, trumpeter Rachel Spencer’s career has been rich and fulfilling. From big bands to orchestras, brass bands to brass quintets, Rachel is known for her stylistic prowess in a wide range of genres, as well as her clear and expressive tone. Ms. Spencer has  shared the stage with many incredible musicians such as Graham Reynolds, Nikki Glaspie, Andre Hayward, Diego Rivera, and Peggy Stern among others. Her music has afforded her travel opportunities nationally and internationally; She has performed at TMEA, OMEA, the Tanglewood Music Center, including traveled to Hong Kong as a featured performer in the Chinese New Year Parade. While a graduate student at the University of Texas, she was a member of the UT Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, New Music Ensemble, Jazz Orchestra and was a semifinalist in the National Trumpet Competition graduate solo division. As a member of DCI, Rachel was a member of the Bluecoats for 5 years as a lead trumpet player, soloist, and horn sergeant, winning bronze, silver, and gold with the corps. Rachel has a robust performing career in and around Austin, Texas where she performs in many settings, from big bands to chamber groups. Rachel is the leader of her project Rachel Spencer and Friends, performing both original and standard works. 

 

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A passionate and well-rounded teacher, Rachel is devoted to the forward motion of music education and is dedicated to teaching students from all walks of life. With over 10 years of experience as a music educator, Rachel has years of experience as a band director, lesson teacher, clinician, DCI faculty member, and currently serves as Education Coordinator and Winds Caption Head for the Bluecoats SoundSport team, Rhythm in Blue. She has served on faculty at Longhorn Music Camp and Texas Jazz and Blues Camp. Additionally, she has held Teaching Assistant appointments through her Masters and Doctorate where she has directed large and small ensembles and lead courses in her department. Rachel's students have demonstrated consistent success in All State, competitions, DCI placements, and university auditions. Currently, she has a thriving private studio and clinician schedule and frequently travels to share her Jazz Clinic "From Zero To Hero, Simple Steps to Sensible Improvisation".

 

 

 

 

Rachel holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin in Music and Human Learning, a Bachelor of Music from Capital University in Jazz Studies and is currently completing her Doctoral studies at the University of Texas in Jazz Performance where she is a Graduate Teaching Assistant. Her main teachers include: Rob Parton, Michael Sailors, Lou Fischer, Marie Spezalie, Wiff Rudd, John Mills, and Diego Rivera.

 

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In her free time, Rachel enjoys reading, playing with her cats, exercise, and going hiking with her partner. She is a coffee aficionado and loves to seek inspiration from visual art. Rachel plays on a Lotus Universal Max trumpet and an Adams F1 flugelhorn.