faculty

Rachel Orth Teaches:

An active soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral member, violinist Rachel Arcega Orth is noted for her passionate musical interpretations and exceptional singing tone. Since beginning violin lessons at the age of six, Mrs. Orth has performed across the United States, Canada, France, Mexico, and Argentina. As a freelance musician, Mrs. Orth has performed with internationally renowned programs such as Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, New World Symphony, and Spoleto Festival Orchestra USA.

Mrs. Orth recently graduated from Boston University with a Master’s of Music in Violin Performance. She holds a Bachelor’s of Music in Violin Performance from Texas Christian University, where she graduated Magna cum laude. In addition to appearing as concertmaster of the BU Symphony and as a violinist with Symphony Nova and Marsh Chapel Collegium, Mrs. Orth has played in Boston’s Symphony Hall on numerous occasions with the Boston Philharmonic under the baton of Benjamin Zander. During her undergraduate studies, she served as concertmaster of the TCU Symphony Orchestra and led the symphony’s 2012 performance in Bass Hall. In 2019 Mrs. Orth was selected as an alternate for the New World Symphony and served as a substitute there from 2019-2021. A student of Bayla Keyes, Dr. Curt Thompson, Dr. Misha Galaganov, and Michael Shih, Mrs. Orth participated in master classes with James Buswell, David Kim, Cho-Liang Lin, Ronald Copes, and Yoheved Kaplinsky. Other past teachers include Elisa Barston, Ronald Patterson, and Harold Byers.

An avid chamber musician and soloist, Mrs. Orth has participated under full scholarship in summer festivals including the Bowdoin International Music Festival and the Prades International Music Academie in France. From 2018-2022 she has been selected as a member of the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra and performed in Charleston, South Carolina. In 2019, Mrs. Orth was selected as a guest musician for the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra in Lenox, Massachusetts. As a chamber musician, Mrs. Orth was a Young Artist at Mimir Chamber Music Festival during the summers of 2006, 2009, and 2010 under the instruction of Stephen Rose, Nathan Cole, Brant Taylor, Erin Keefe, and Dr. Curt Thompson.  Her most recent chamber performance was a recital with the Arlington String Quartet at DePaul University.  Other chamber music experience includes two summers with the Detroit Symphony Summer Arts Festival performing and working with members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and one year as first violinist in the Detroit Symphony Civic Honors Chamber program. 

Mrs. Orth has worked in her home town as Assistant Concertmaster with the Cascade Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Concertmaster with the Everett Symphony in Everett, Washington. Prior to these engagements, Mrs. Orth was Concertmaster of the Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra during their 2005-2006 season with guest conductor Itzhak Perlman and guest artist Midori Goto.  She also served as first violinist and concertmaster for the Dearborn Youth Symphony from 1998 until 2005. At the age of 12, Mrs. Orth made her solo debut with the Dearborn Youth Symphony as the winner of their Young Artist Concerto Competition.   

During the summer of 2007, Mrs. Orth was an Emerson Scholar at Interlochen Arts Academy.  She served as principal second, Assistant Concertmaster, and Concertmaster of the World Youth Symphony Orchestra.  She has worked with artists such as Brandon and Branford Marsalis, Joshua Bell, and William Preucil. 

Apart from her endeavors on the violin, Mrs. Orth enjoys singing, playing the piano, teaching, and running. She currently resides in Oak Park, IL with her husband Kyle and their two cats, Nana and Seb.