Music Bio

Asides from my research/CS life, I am a classically trained pianist and a composer. I began learning piano at the age of 5. I hold both a Associate Diploma (ARCT) and a Licentiate Diploma (LRCM) in Piano Performance, which are the highest academic standings awarded by the Royal Conservatory of Music Certificate Program. I have performed as a soloist, chamber musician, accompanist, and in various music ensembles. I participated in and won in many different categories in solo piano competitions under OMFA.

I also double concentrated in music with honors at Brown University, where I was fortunate to have had piano instructors, Saleem Abboud Ashkar and Rosalind Chua, and was also part of a piano trio, coached by Consuelo Sherba, and did my honors project on composing a symphony advised by Anthony Cheung (and read by Mark Seto).

I began dabbling in composition back in middle school for the UTS Twig Tape and have composed for a variety of small and large ensembles. I also briefly learned violin in my string classes in middle and high school, and have also played violin (less frequently) in string ensembles and for score reading in conducting classes.

Another music fun fact about me is that I played percussion (drum kit and aux percussion) for a few years!

Music Classes

While in Grad School at MIT: Conducting and Score Reading (MIT); Opera, Empire, and Modernity (Harvard)

At Brown University: Chamber Music Performance (coached by Consuelo Sherba) and Applied Music Program Keyboard (taught by Saleem Abboud Ashkar, Rosalind Chua). Theory of Tonal Music, Theory of Tonal Music II,Intro to Composition, Score Reading and Conducting, Analysis & Performance of Music, Orchestration, Bach Seminar, Messiaen Seminar

Royal Conservatory of Music (Pre 2014 Requirements): Advanced Rudiments, History 1 (Overview), History 2 (Middle Ages to Classical), History 3 (19th Century to present), Harmony, Counterpoint, Analysis.

Piano/Performer Experiences

Piano Soloist: Grade 10 piano with distinction (2014), Associate Diploma (ARCT, 2016) and a Licentiate Diploma (LRCM, 2019) in Piano Performance. Performed pieces such as Chopin's Ballade no. 1 in G minor, op. 23; Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 "Appassionata", Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No. 3 in A minor, Op. 28, Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major, Op. 102

Most recent competition experiences:

Pickering Rotary Music Festival - Open Level List C, First Place (2018); Senior Piano Musicianship Trophy (2016); ARCT List C, Second Place (2016); ARCT List E, Second Place (2016)

North York Music Festival - ARCT List E, First Place (2016); ARCT List C, Third Place (2016); ARCT Bach, Third Place (2016); ARCT List B, Third Place (2016)

Markham Music Festival - ARCT Bach Prelude & Fugue, Second Place (2016); Age Achievement, Third Place (2016); ARCT List E, Third Place (2016); ARCT Sonata, Third Place (2016)

Piano Chamber Musician: At Brown University, was involved in a piano trio, and violin and piano duo.Performed pieces such as Beethoven's Piano Trio No. 3 in C minor (Op. 1, No. 3), Beethoven's Piano Trio in D major, Op.70 No.1 "Ghost", and Mendelssohn's Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Beethoven's Piano and Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major, Op. 47 "Kreutzer", Brahms's Violin Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 100.

Piano Accompanist: Played a celesta part in Brown's Wind Symphony in a concert (2020). Served as piano accompanist at Brown University and at University of Toronto Schools (UTS). Accompanied for various singers, violinists, and ensembles. Accompanied UTS's ensembles: Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Chamber Strings, Senior Strings, Junior Strings, S5/S6 Orchestra. Also played piano in Junior Jazz Band.

Violinist: Learned violin as part of high school curriculum at University of Toronto Schools. Played violin for ensemble score reading at Brown and MIT for conducting classes. Played violin in UTS's ensembles: Senior Strings, Junior Strings

Percussionist: Learned percussion in grade 5 and 6 music. Played percussion also in UTS Junior Jazz.

Compositions

Feel free to get in contact with me for parts if you would like to perform any of my pieces!

"Odyssey"

Composed by Rachel Ma in 2022-2023 for music honors thesis. Read by the Brown University Orchestra.

For my senior honors thesis, I presented a score for a 9.5 minute symphonic composition titled “Odyssey”. This piece is inspired by my memories and emotions that I have experienced during my undergraduate years at Brown University, with expansions from themes that were present in my previous composition, Recollections. Through working on this thesis, I took the time to create a larger scale piece, and experiment with the instrumentation and music styles, to better tell a connected story of growth and emotions through composition. The piece consists of four movements, each representing a year at Brown. The piece aims to portray the different feelings and experiences such as adapting, companionship, happiness, comfort, loneliness, challenges, and growth since high school. Various music styles such as jazz and serialism are incorporated.

"Solitude in G Minor"

Composed by Rachel Ma in December 2021. Performed by Rachel Ma (piano) and Ben Johnson (violin) for Composition course.

"Recollections"

Composed by Rachel Ma in 2018-2019. Original wind orchestra version read by the SPO Orchestra for the SPO project.

Second rearranged version performed by Bridget Peters (trumpet), Phoebe McElligott (oboe), Stone Hu (flute), Kev Wang (flute/piccolo), Tristan Vena (clarinet), Gabriel Beiner (cello), Kat Dou (bassoon), Andreas Ma (snare drum). Produced by Rachel Ma, Mr.Laidman, and the UTS Twig Tape.

"Show Theme"

Composed by Rachel Ma in 2017-2018 for UTS Show Soundtrack, Part 1 Performed by: Rachel Ma (piano), Nils Emmenegger (Clarinet), Kevin Wang (Flute), Mr. Laidman (percussion). Produced by Rachel Ma, Mr.Laidman, and the UTS Twig Tape.

Composed by Rachel Ma in 2017-2018, Part 2 Performed by: Rachel Ma (piano), Myron Moskalyk (violin), Adam Tam (viola), Donna Oh (cello).Produced by Rachel Ma, Mr.Laidman, and the UTS Twig Tape.

"Silver Lining"

Composed by Rachel Ma in 2016-2017. Performed by: Rachel Ma (piano hands #1, 2), Aaron Dou (piano hands #3, 4).Produced by Rachel Ma, Mr.Laidman, and the UTS Twig Tape.

"Spring Bloom"

Composed by Rachel Ma in 2015-2016, Performed by: Rachel Ma (piano), Billy Bao (violin). Produced by Rachel Ma, Mr.Laidman, and the UTS Twig Tape.

"Even Bigger"

Composed by Rachel Ma in 2014-2015, Performed by: Rachel Ma (piano), Billy Bao (violin), Esther Yue (violin), Jamie Li (viola), Gabriel Beiner (cello), Adam Leung (double bass). Produced by Rachel Ma, Mr.Laidman, and the UTS Twig Tape.

Awards

MH. Mann Premium Award (May 2023, Brown Music Department)

Margery MacColl Award (2021, Brown Music department)

Lum Family Scholarship (2019, UTS)

The John and Margaret Withrow Music Scholarship - Twig CD (2019, UTS)

Dr. Michael D. Kolin Memorial Award (2018, UTS)

The John and Margaret Withrow Music Scholarship (2017, UTS)