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Rachael's Musical Background
I'm Rachael, a violist and string educator currently based in Greensboro, North Carolina. I fill my professional basket with practice, rehearsals, teaching, writing, and performing. When I'm not with my instrument, I love to spend my time running, cooking, and enjoying moments with friends and family.
I spent most of my childhood and young adulthood in Atlanta, GA. My parents worked in the business field and loved to listen to country music and classic rock. We have very fond memories of singing in the car and dancing in the living room to music from ELO, Michael Jackson, Tim McGraw, and Sir-Mix-a-Lot. I was able to transfer my love of music into something tangible when I chose to play viola in middle school.
My grade school created a day where students could browse orchestra, band, and choir. After surveying a number of instruments, I was lured by a handful of extra M&M's to play the viola! This story is both special and funny to me because the circumstances of my choosing the viola are much like my relationship with music: serendipitous and lighthearted. Shortly after, my parents took me to rent my very first viola. I remember sitting on the floor of my dad's office puzzled with how to get the instrument to sound. I had no clue that I needed to rosin the bow!
I was very fortunate to have not one, but three first-year classroom string teachers. I enjoyed school orchestra because I was able to socialize with friends and enjoyed being inspired by my passionate and energetic teachers. I was 1 of about 80 children in my school orchestra and never pursued private instruction. Though I never experienced the special benefits of years of private instruction, I was given extra support by my classroom teachers and was able to pursue a degree in viola performance.
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My relationship with music and viola changed drastically during college. I was fueled by my hard-working colleagues to visit the practice rooms as much as possible. I built meaningful relationships with fellow musicians and artists through ensemble, teaching, and performance opportunities. My undergraduate teacher, Dr. Cathy Lynn, was an inspiring performer, teacher, and mentor. She introduced me to the world of viola literature and pedagogy and through those studies, I found my career passion.
After completing my undergraduate, I applied for graduate studies in string pedagogy. I moved to Columbus, OH to study with Dr. Robert Gillespie and Dr. Juliet White-Smith and further developed and nurtured my love for teaching and viola performance. Following graduation, I built my professional career and network through teaching and performing in Columbus area. Youth and audience education and outreach became a core passion for my career and I was motivated to remain active in projects that connect music with a variety of ages and audiences.
After an amazing eight years in Columbus, I decided to pursue my Doctorate of Musical Arts in Viola Performance at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. My time away from school strengthened my love for teaching and performing and lead me to want to do this and more at the collegiate level. During this degree, I discovered my love and knack for free improvisation and started making my own music. I became Dr. Rachael Keplin in May 2024 and was appointed as faculty at Wake Forest University where I will be teaching viola, violin, and chamber music.
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Rachael Keplin is a versatile violist, string educator, and free improviser. She is the Associate Principal for the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra and regularly performs with the North Carolina Opera and North Charleston Pops. As a dedicated chamber musician, Rachael has co-founded contemporary ensembles Chamber Brews and Sounding Board. She is a committed advocate for new music and non-classical genres and has performed with jazz artists Helen Sung and Michael Bublé.
Rachael is passionate about creating her own music through free improvisation on her Boss RC-600 loop station. She enjoys performing solo looper shows throughout North Carolina and recently won the ACGC Artist grant to support the production of her debut album. She often integrates teaching free improvisation in both group and studio settings and has presented her dissertation research, “Mindfulness and Free Improvisation,” at national conferences.
Rachael received her Doctor of Musical Arts in viola performance from the University of North Carolina Greensboro, a Master’s degree from The Ohio State University, and a Bachelor’s degree from Kennesaw State University. She is currently on the faculty at Wake Forest University and The Music Academy of North Carolina.