Rachel Andrist

Biography:

Canadian pianist Rachel Andrist is recognized internationally for her insightful musicianship, sophisticated pianism and generous collaborative spirit. Following her studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the St. Louis Conservatory, she joined the music staff of Théâtre Royale de la Monnaie in Brussels as Chef de chant. Based principally in Europe since 1997, she has also been on the music staff of the Salzburg Festival, Bavarian State Opera in Munich, Salzburg Easter Festival, Glyndebourne Festival, Netherlands Opera, English National Opera, and Scottish Opera, serving as répétiteur for such conductors as Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Antonio Pappano, Ivor Bolton, Vladimir Jurowski, René Jacobs, Valery Gergiev and Kazushi Ono. Of particular note was her position as Studienleiterin for the Young Singers Project at the Salzburg Festival from 2009 to 2012 and for Copenhagen’s Royal Danish Opera, where she was Head of Musical Projects. 

Ms Andrist’s early studies with Martin Isepp fostered a lifelong love affair with song repertoire and she has shared the recital stage with acclaimed artists including Adrianne Pieczonka, Sir Thomas Allen, Jason Howard, Allyson McHardy, Klara Ek, Ekaterina Gubanova, Franz-Josef Selig, Elzbieta Szmytka, Quinn Kelsey, Elliot Madore and Heidi Melton among others. Returning to Canada in 2010, she is currently a member of the Canadian Opera Company’s music staff and is a frequent guest at the University of Toronto’s Opera School, L’Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal and the Oslo National Opera in Norway.  Eager to share her musical knowledge with emerging young artists, she has joined the faculty at the Glenn Gould School at Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music, where she co-founded the Songmasters Recital Series with soprano Monica Whicher.