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Rachel Frederiksen is an in-demand bassoonist and educator who performs across the United States and abroad. As a Texas native, she currently works in San Antonio at the University of Incarnate Word and teaches privately in the surrounding areas. Her previous university appointments were at the University of Arkansas, University of Alabama and the University of Texas at San Antonio as Professor of Bassoon.

As a soloist, Rachel recently performed "El Coco" at the 2025 International Double Reed Society (IDRS) in Indianapolis, IN, a piece about the Costa Rican "boogie man." She also performed her published transcription of Emilie Mayer’s Sonata in E Minor (originally for violin) at the 2024 International Double Reed Society (IDRS) in Flagstaff, AZ. As a recording artist, Rachel can be heard her YouTube channel and on Ricardo Lorenz’s chamber music CD, Open Borders. The piece on this album that features her and Apothix Trio is called ‘Tendril Rapture.’ Currently, Rachel is in the editing stage of her recent recording projects, which includes the consortium piece Rude Moods, an unaccompanied bassoon suite by Aaron Houston.

As a savvy entrepreneur, Rachel as built an online reed store, through Etsy. Her reeds have gotten 5 stars from all of her customers, even those located in Honduras! Even more exciting is that Rachel, in conjunction with Puerto Rican bassoonist, Cesar Torres, have set up their project of Puerto Rico Double Reed Day (PRDRD) into a new LLC! Puerto Rico Double Reed Festival (PRDRF) is a grassroots initiative that provides educational opportunities for Puerto Rican double reed students and educators by bringing in guest artists from all over the world! Now working on its third year, we are excited to be bringing in bassoonist, Ben Coehlo, and oboist, Courtney Miller, in 2026.
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In demand as an orchestral musician, Rachel performs with several Texas orchestras, including San Antonio Philharmonic and Victoria Symphony. She previously served as Principal Bassoon with the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra for their 2022-2023 season. As a chamber musician, Rachel is a founding member of Apothix Trio, a chamber ensemble featuring the oboe, bassoon, and piano. This ensemble recently won a 50 for 50 Commissioning Grant from IDRS and premiered a new work by Puerto Rican composer, Johanny Navarro at the 2025 IDRS conference. Rachel has also performed regularly at festivals and venues throughout the United States including MegQuigley Bassoon Symposium, IDRS Midsouth Regional Chapter 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 and string chamber music to be performable on bassoon. Rachel has delivered presentations and masterclasses at universities and festivals internationally including IDRS conferences, College Music Society conferences, MegQuigley Bassoon Symposia, University of Texas at Arlington and Southern Methodist University, among many others.

​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:

UIW Orchestra
University of Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX
December 6, 2025
7:30 PM

Mid-Texas Symphony
Christmas Concert
Jackson Auditorium
Seguin, TX
December 14, 2025
4:00 PM

Faculty Recital
University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX
January 30, 2026
5:30 PM

Puerto Rico Double Reed Festival
Escuela de Musica de Ponce
Artist in Residence
Ponce, PR
February 19-20, 2026
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UIW Orchestra
University of Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX
March 1, 2026
7:30 PM

UIW Wind Ensemble
University of Incarnate Word
Featured Soloist
San Antonio, TX
March 5, 2026
7:30 PM

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