symphony spotlight
Meet Rachel Ray
conroe symphony orchestra harpist
The Most Beautiful Instrument of All
At nine years old, Rachel Ray made a decision that would shape the rest of her life. She wanted to play the most beautiful instrument of all.
“And well,” she says, “obviously.”
The harp chose her right back. Today, Rachel is in her very first season as a harpist with the Conroe Symphony Orchestra, and her arrival came with a moment that felt almost scripted.
“I had always wanted to play a Disney pops concert with an orchestra,” she says. “The fact that my first ever concert with CSO was an official Disney concert was the stuff of dreams.”
Ask Rachel about her favorite composers and she’ll tell you there are far too many to choose from, but one name rises above the rest for a very specific reason.
“One standout composer is Tchaikovsky, because he knows what to do with a harp part in an orchestral texture. His music created for harp can be described as an ethereal dance”
-Rachel Ray
That ear for beauty was shaped by a teacher Rachel credits with transforming her playing entirely: Paula Page.
“She was the best teacher I ever had,” Rachel says. “Before I took lessons from her, I was only ‘just talented.’ She inspired me toward working for technical ability and concert excellence.”
It’s that same spirit, the pursuit of something beautiful and the willingness to work for it, that Rachel would pass along to any young person thinking about picking up an instrument. Her advice is simple, and it’s perfect coming from someone who fell in love with the harp at nine:
“Pick the sound you love — the voice you do not get tired of.”
Come Hear Rachel For Yourself
“The musicians in the orchestra must have music in their hearts to make such a sacrifice to come to rehearsals after their day jobs. They just have music-making as part of their lives.”
— Gary Liebst, Music Director
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