Rachel Iba
About this Artist
Praised by the LA Times as a “versatile violinist,” Rachel Iba is a Los Angeles-based musician, conductor, performance artist and educator whose career reflects the diverse creative landscape of the Los Angeles art scene. From performing and lecturing at Walt Disney Concert Hall, to showcasing her distinct blend of stand up comedy and performance art in clubs across the city - it’s safe to say that Iba’s unique artistic voice transcends traditional boundaries.
As a violinist, Iba performs regularly with numerous ensembles including the Grammy-winning ensemble Wild Up, Synchromy New Music Collective, and is the concertmaster of Derrick Skye’s award-winning Bridge to Everywhere ensemble - with whom she gave the REDCAT premiere of Skye’s Mind the Rhythm for solo violin and live electronics. She has been featured on NPR with world-folk band Primero Sueño, and is a regular studio musician for film and television. Iba is also an accomplished baroque violinist, and has played with Jeannette Sorrell and members of Apollo’s Fire.
As an educator, Iba is the Artistic Director and conductor of the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Orchestra - a groundbreaking program that introduces young musicians to contemporary and cross-cultural music alongside traditional western classical repertoire. The group will perform at Carnegie Hall in April 2024. She has lectured extensively in music history and has appeared as an instructor and guest lecturer with organizations including California Institute of the Arts, Mount St. Mary's University, Ventura College, Longy School of Music, and is on the faculty of Kinhaven Music School and the Walden School Young Musicians Program. She is also a regular pre-concert lecturer for the LA Philharmonic, and her talks can be heard on the Upbeat Live podcast.
She holds degrees from California Institute of the Arts and Oberlin Conservatory, where she was awarded the Marilyn McDonald scholarship and the Louis and Annette Kaufman violin prize in 2014.