Rachel Sandman

Rachel Sandman is currently a member of the Kansas City Symphony and in her second year of teaching at the Kansas City Suzuki Academy. Rachel began studying violin at the Queensborough Community College Suzuki Academy at the age of 3. After moving to Los Angeles at the age of 6, she continued her studies at the Colburn School of Performing Arts Suzuki and pre-college programs. Rachel holds degrees from Rice University (BM) and the Cleveland Institute of Music (MM, violin performance), (MM, Suzuki Pedagogy, Kimberly Meier-Sims), (Artist Diploma). Her primary violin teachers were William Preucil Jr, Joel Smirnoff, Ivan Zenaty, Cho-Liang Lin, Sergiu Luca, Chan-Ho Yun, Sherry Cadow, and Nicole DiCecco.

Rachel maintains a balance between the performance and pedagogy worlds. Before arriving in Kansas City, she was a fellow of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida. Prior to that, Rachel was the associate concertmaster of the Canton Symphony Orchestra, a member of ProMusica Chamber Orchestra and Breckenridge Music Festival, and a substitute with the Cleveland Orchestra. A passionate teacher, Rachel takes special interest in starting young beginners. She has previously been on the faculty at the Aurora School of Music (Aurora, OH) and at Encore Chamber Music Institute (Gates Mills, OH).

Rachel lives in Hyde Park, KCMO with her husband, fellow violinist and colleague Stirling Trent. In her spare time, she enjoys being active outdoors, gardening, and spending time with her two dogs, Tyler and Rocky.