"Baikal Journey Pt. 1 - Ancient Friend" - Rachel Flowers, alto flute; Paul Switzler, piano - Composed by Catherine McMichael - Conejo Valley Music Teachers' Association Gold Medal Honors Recital November 8, 2009
"Concertino for Flute and Orchestra" - Rachel Flowers, flute; Paul Switzler, piano - Composed by Cécile Chaminade - Flute Recital June 7, 2009
"Dolphin Dance" - Rachel Flowers, solo piano - Composed by Herbie Hancock - home recording January 10, 2009
"Tell Me A Bedtime Story" - Rachel Flowers, piano; Grant Horrocks, electric piano - Composed by Herbie Hancock - June 27, 2009
"Somewhere Over The Rainbow" - Rachel Flowers, piano; Kylie Castro, vocal - Composed by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg - Performed at the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Camp 2009
"Thoughts Of You" - composed and performed by Rachel Flowers - 2007
"Voliere from 'Carnival of the Animals'" - Rachel Flowers, flute; Paul Switzler, piano - Composed by Camille Saint-Saens - Flute Recital June 7, 2009
"My Funny Valentine" - Rachel Flowers, piano - Composed by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart - home recording February 2008
"The Heatstroke Blues" - Owls in the Shower - Rachel Flowers, piano; Audrey Reed, vocals; Doyle Cooper, trumpet; John Kagawa, trombone; Thomas Harris, saxophone; Chloe Feoranzo, clarinet; Chris Clark, bass; David Giertz, drums - Composed by Owls in the Shower at the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Camp 2009
Etching by Mary Barnes-Gingrich "Trill" used by kind permission of the artist. MBGingrich.com
Fifteen-year-old musical prodigy Rachel Flowers was born 15 weeks premature, weighing less than one and a half pounds. At the age of three months she developed Retinopathy of Prematurity, which took away her sight.
She discovered the piano at age two when, in an effort to stop Rachel from banging on the keys with her toys, her mother took her hands and showed her how to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Rachel caught on immediately and was soon playing the song in octaves, and then in harmony. Within a week she was playing every song she heard.
At age four, Rachel began studying with Grant Horrocks, co-director of the Braille Music Division at the Southern California Conservatory of Music, the only school of music nationally and internationally serving both sighted and blind students and offering specialized training in music braille, with curriculum development and production on-site. Braille Division co-chair Richard Taesch oversees Rachel's music braille studies. http://www.sccm.us/
When Rachel was five years old she began study in music sequencing and recording under the direction of David Pinto, then with SCCM. Her studies in electronic media continue on a consultation basis through the Academy of Music for the Blind, of which David Pinto is the founder and Executive Director. http://www.ouramb.org/
For the past four years Rachel has studied the flute under the direction of Toby Caplan-Stonefield through SCCM. As both a pianist and flutist she has performed in numerous recitals, festivals, and competitions with continuing success. Rachel has been a Young Musicians Foundation scholarship recipient in support of her flute studies for the past three years and, through the generous support of Lou and Kelly Gonda, her piano studies are now being augmented by the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz where she works with Dr. J.B. Dyas and Institute alumnus Yoon-Seung Cho.
Former professors include Larry Boeing, Robert Ward, Judy Rotenberg, and the late Barbara Schneiderman.
Thanks to the efforts of all who have assisted in Rachel's musical development, she has had the opportunity to meet, perform for, and even perform with some of her musical idols including Herbie Hancock, Justo Almario, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Diane Schuur, Herb Alpert, Burt Bacharach, Jeff Elliott, Buddy Collette, Wayne Shorter, B. B. King, and others. Rachel has also been honored to perform as a featured soloist with the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic Orchestra, and with Ann Patterson's Maiden Voyage, the all women jazz big band.
Since age four Rachel has been featured a number of times on television, including a recent 60 Minutes segment showing her work with David Pinto.
Additionally, Rachel currently plays flute and xylophone with her high school marching band and concert band, and she plays the piano with the after school jazz band, all under the direction of Kyle Norwood.
This myspace page has been created by popular demand, in an effort to keep up with the constant requests for information and updates on Rachel's activities and musical progress. We thank you for your interest in Rachel and her music. This is indeed an exciting time :)
Recently, I added a new song to my music player called, "Always" which might be one of the best songs I've written so far. The chorus was scored for an entire violin section, however, in studio, I had one violinist, Jan "Yes I Can" Sullins. I asked her to single handedly create the sound of a "Hollywood style" string section. This is almost like telling someone, "Please jump rope one handed 10 times while monkeys nip at your feet." :-)
Lucky for me, Jan worked some magic and it's now track 1 on my newly released CD, "Awakening." To celebrate the release, I've decided to give away the track for free. It's called "Always" and you can download it at http://ping.fm/lQt6I
Tax Night Party this Wednesday on the beach! It's 80's Night every Wednesday and we are turning it up a notch this week! Classic 80's alternative, new wave and hair band rock! 80's Trivia with 3 rounds including television, movies and music! 5pm-2am fun! Beer Pong after 10pm! This weeks movie during Trivia is Ghost Busters. Come out for some fun & good friends! The Beachcomber Tavern 206 Ocean, Silverstrand Beach, Ca. 93035 at the end of Victoria Road. Thanks for all support! Have a great week! -Pete
thanks for the friendship. just heard about you through a friend in Florida. i listened to your songs and i want to tell you that you are really, really talented! greetings from cold and freezing Germany take care and go on like this Micha
Thank you Rachel, but what's really good is knowing YOU'RE doing what I believe you were born for: enriching everyone's lives with your wonderful gifts.
I'm truly honored to be asked to be your friend, even if only on myspace. Your "Unka Joe" is blown away by your accomplishment, which of course was predictable when I knew you, but still so amazing to witness now. Please tell your folks hi for me, and God bless you. (like he hasn't already, jeesh!) No, he blessed us with you.
