Meet the Committee

Rachel Mathieson

Musical Director

Rachel is an accomplished pianist, singer and conductor, with an impressive performing career spanning Yorkshire and beyond. She is a sought-after guest conductor for choirs and orchestras, and has been organising and directing a unique choir and orchestra project known as Invitatione for over 15 years.

As piano soloist with the Hessle Sinfonia, Rachel has performed Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor. She has performed as solo soprano in works including Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. She has also worked with Opera North’s outreach programmes and, as pianist with the National Symphony Orchestra, has accompanied stars including Alfie Boe and Katherine Jenkins. When she’s not on the podium or at the piano, you might find her playing the cello with the Hessle Sinfonia or singing with the St. John’s Singers.

Rachel graduated with a First Class BMus from the University of Hull in 2007 before completing a PhD in Music in 2016. She also holds a BA in Modern Languages and a DPhil in Education from the University of Oxford. After more than a decade teaching music privately and in schools across Hull and the East Riding, Rachel returned in 2018 to her home town of Barnsley. Following roles at the University of Leeds and in a West Yorkshire school, she now enjoys a varied career as a freelance musician and teacher.

With her infectious enthusiasm, wealth of experience and genuine love of making music, Rachel brings energy, inspiration and plenty of smiles to every rehearsal.