What People Are Saying
“Principal violist Rachel Halvorson’s solo was exquisite”
- Edward Alley, Your Observer, 2019
“… blended with the particularly pleasing intensity of Rachel Halvorson’s viola timbre.”
- Gayle Williams, Herald Tribune, 2020
Rachel Halvorson returns to Houston after time with the San Diego Symphony as acting section viola in 2023, and 3+ seasons as the Sarasota Orchestra’s principal violist and violist for the Sarasota String Quartet.
Rachel holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory (BM), studying with Peter Slowik, and Rice University (MM), where she acted as Teaching Assistant to Ivo Van der Werff and coached chamber music for the Rice Preparatory Program. She includes Joan derHovsepian and Allyson Dawkins as significant musical mentors.
A versatile musician, she has invested significant time in orchestral and chamber music performances, the promotion and exploration of new compositions, community outreach and connection, and the running of a very intentional private lesson studio. Her students have succeeded in regional and all-state auditions in the middle and high school levels.
Biography Bullet Points
Orchestral Experience
Houston Symphony /
Substitute viola / 2018 – present
San Diego Symphony / A
cting Section / viola 2023-2024
Sarasota Orchestra /
Principal viola / 2019 – 2023
Jacksonville Symphony /
Substitute section viola / 2022
The Florida Orchestra /
Substitute section viola / 2022
Houston Grand Opera and Ballet /
Substitute viola / 2016 – present
New World Symphony /
Substitute section viola / 2016 – 2020
Cincinnati Symphony /
Substitute section viola / 2015-2016
San Antonio Symphony /
Substitute section viola / 2015 – 2020
Symphoria (Syracuse) Symphony /
Substitute section viola / 2016
Earth and Air: String Orchestra /
Substitute section viola / 2016
Akron Symphony Orchestra /
Section viola / 2014-2016
Summer Festivals
Music in the Mountains, Durango, CO
Soloist for Telemann Viola Concerto 2024
Principal viola 2022-present
Section viola 2019-2021
Grand Teton Music Festival - Section viola 2022, 2024
Britt Festival Orchestra - Section viola 2022
Tanglewood Music Center - Orchestra Fellow 2017, 2018
Spoleto Festival USA - Orchestra Fellow 2018
National Repertory Orchestra - Orchestra Fellow 2016
Vernon Castleman Viola Seminar - Masterclass playing participant 2015
Credo - Orchestra and Chamber music fellow, assistant principal viola 2013
Crescendo, Hungary - Orchestra fellow and assistant principal viola 2013
Charles Castleman Quartet Program - String Quartet Seminar 2011, 2012
Chamber Music:
Rachel has collaborated in chamber music with artists including: Vadim Gluzman, Orion Weiss, Guillermo Figueroa, Christopher French, Hannah Ji, Erin Schreiber, Jing Bowcott, Xian Zhou, Julia Pautz, Amy Semes, Ying Li, Samantha Bennett, George Nixon, Jennifer Best Takeda
as well as appearances including:
Guest artist in San Diego Chamber Music Society Recitals - 2023
Guest artist in Sarasota Artist Concert Series chamber music recitals - 2019-2022
Artonic String Quartet recitals across San Diego including Residency at SDSU 2024
Sarasota String Quartet 2019 – 2023
Recitals for the Sarasota Orchcestra’s chamber music series, as well as outreach and recitals across SRQ
Contemporary Music:
EnsembleNewSRQ / 2010-2023
KINETIC: The Conductorless Ensemble /
2016 – present
Hear and Now – New Music Ensemble / 2017-2019
Music Educator
In addition to her studio of private viola and violin students, Rachel has appeared as an educator with:
Artonic Piano Quintet
Residency at SDSU 2024
masterclass on how to practice and prepare for performances
Sarasota Music Conservatory
viola and violin faculty / 2020 – 2023
Sarasota Youth Orchestra
sectional coach / 2019-2023
Rice’s Michael P. Hammond Preparatory Program
chamber music coach / 2017-2019
Youth Orchestra San Antonio
Summer Symphony Camp
teaching artist / 2014, 2015, 2020
Hill Country Youth Orchestra
Summer String Camp
sectionals coach / 2014-2016
Community Engagement
Rachels in Concert - DFW Series with Rachel Daniels / 2024
Solo Recital for Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning / 2022
Music in the Mountains Mobile Stage / 2022
Play for the Vote / 2020
Upward Notes / 2019 – 2023
Just for U Music Program (JUMP!) Outreach Program / 2017
Patrick Davis Scars and Bars Project / 2013
Allyson Dawkins Caroling Project / 2009-2012
Awards and Spotlight:
Concerto Soloist with Music in the Mountains / 2024
Solo Recital for Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning / 2022
Houston Viola Society Recital / 2018
Teacher’s Assistant Fellowship to Ivo Van der Werff at Rice University / 2018-2019
American Viola Society Collegiate Solo Competition / first prize 2018
American Viola Society Excerpt Competition / first prize 2018
Tanglewood Mock Audition winner / Prize: performing in BSO section 2018
Maestro Instrument Lending Program / Mario Miralles viola loan 2018 – 2020
