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Rachel Frederiksen is an in-demand bassoonist and educator who is based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. As a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player, she performs across the United States and abroad. As a teacher and pedagogue, she has educated many bassoonists in university masterclasses, conferences, and lessons, and previously held positions at the University of Alabama and the University of Texas at San Antonio as Lecturer of Bassoon. Her current position is Teaching Assistant Professor of Bassoon at the University of Arkansas.

As a soloist, Rachel performed her Tour of South America recital at the 2022 International Double Reed Society in Boulder, CO and in San Germán, Puerto Rico at the Puerto Rico Center for Collaborative Piano Festival where she served as a guest artist and faculty member. She also performed the world premiere of the wind band transcription of the Weber Bassoon Concerto in May 2021 with the Heart of Texas Concert Band. As a recording artist, Rachel can be heard on Ricardo Lorenz’s chamber CD, Open Borders, which was released in December 2020. The piece that features her on the CD is ‘Tendril Rapture’ a piece written for oboe, bassoon, and piano as part of a commissioning project that was funded through a grant award from the 2019 MSU Running Start Entrepreneurship Competition. Currently, Rachel is in the editing stage of her recent recording project of the consortium piece Rude Moods, an unaccompanied bassoon suite by Aaron Houston.

In demand as an orchestral musician, Rachel served as Principal Bassoon with the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra for 2022-2023 season. She previously served as a section bassoonist of the Symphony of the Hills orchestra for the 2021-2022 season as well as guest appearances with many other ensembles including Victoria Symphony and SA Harmonia. As a chamber musician, she has performed regularly at festivals and venues throughout the United States including International Double Reed Society conferences, MegQuigley Bassoon Symposium, and the Memphis International Prizm Chamber Ensemble Festival.

As a researcher and academic, Rachel is actively investigating the life and works of German composer Emilie Mayer, and keenly transcribing her violin sonatas to be performable on bassoon. She also focuses on undergraduate teaching techniques and student learning in higher education in both private bassoon lessons and classroom teaching. While at MSU, Rachel was a part of a team of researchers and artists from the Michigan State University Residential College of Arts and Humanities (RCAH) Fellowship Program. Their project, titled ‘Love the Learner,’ investigates professor/student relationships and their effects on student learning. The preliminary findings show that developing deeper connections with students, having student input on class structure and topics, and having clear personal and work boundaries allow for positive learning environments. Rachel has delivered presentations and masterclasses at universities and festivals internationally including the 2022 IDRS conference, PRCCP, and 2021 MegQuigley Bassoon Symposium, Columbus State University, Memphis University, and the University of Southern Mississippi, among many others.
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​Dr. Rachel Frederiksen completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Michigan State University. She holds a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from Texas Lutheran University and a Master of Music and Master of Music Education degrees from Baylor University, where she was inducted into the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Fraternity. When she is not busy teaching, performing, or reed-making, you can find Rachel hanging out with her friends or helping her parents with their many basset hounds and cats in their home in Texas.

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Upcoming Events:

Lyrique Quintette Tour
Southwest Arkansas Counties
Nashville High School, Howard County, AR
​Lafayette County, AR schools 
December 14-15, 2023

Lyrique Quintette Recital
FPAC, University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR
January 29, 2024
7:30PM

Guest Artist
Tennessee Tech University
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro and Cookeville, TN 
February 20, 2024

College Music Society
​Southern Chapter Conference
Rhodes College
Memphis, TN
February 2024

SHE Festival
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR
March 2024

College Music Society
​Southeastern Chapter Conference
University of Arkansas Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR
March 2024

Puerto Rico Double Reed Day Artist in Residence
Juan Morel Campos Music Specialize School
Ponce, PR
March 17-23, 2024

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