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Rachel Woolf, flutist

Rachel Woolf is Assistant Professor of Flute at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), School of Music.
As a multidimensional artist, she regularly explores various genres and collaborates with diverse artists. She is sought after as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, and rock musician.

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About
Rachel

Dr. Rachel Woolf serves as Assistant Professor of Flute at the University of Texas at San Antonio School of Music. Accomplished as a multidimensional artist, Rachel is co-founder of the flute and marimba duo, Duo 彩 AYA, principal flute with the Victoria Bach Festival and flutist in the Dallas based symphonic pop rock band, The Polyphonic Spree. She regularly performs with the San Antonio Philharmonic, United States Air Force Band of the West, and served one year as Principal Flute with Symphony of the Hills. Additionally, Rachel has performed and recorded with indie singer Jośe González, Il Divo, Darren Criss, and Swans. An Advocate for new music, Duo 彩 AYA commissioned four new works for performances across the United States in the 2023-2024 season and their debut album Cycles is set to be released on April 18, 2025 on Neuma Records. Her performances have taken her across the globe, including notable appearances in Argentina, Chile, Canada, and throughout Europe.

Rachel has been featured prominently at the National Flute Association Convention (NFA), including playing three consecutive years on the NFA Gala Concerts (2022-2024) and serving as the Local Arrangements Chair for the 2024 convention in San Antonio, Texas. Additionally, she has been a featured Gala artist at the 2023 Biennial North American Saxophone Alliance Conference, as well as a performer at the 2024 World Flutes Festival in Mendoza, Argentina, the 2023 College Music Society’s National Conference, and the 2023 International Clarinet Association ClarinetFest. Furthermore, she has been a featured soloist with the UTSA Orchestra and UTSA Wind Ensemble.

A dedicated educator, Rachel was named YAMAHA’s “40 UNDER 40” Music Educators Class of 2025. Rachel is committed to performing and teaching music from diverse composers and artists that expand beyond the western classical cannon. She has commissioned five works by underrepresented composers for the UTSA Flute Ensemble, including three by UTSA alumni composers, and supported three new arrangements, which have been featured at NFA and other festivals across the country. In 2024 she established the San Antonio Youth Flute Choir with UTSA alum Dominic Valadez, which was featured on the final concert of the NFA Youth Flute Day, celebrating music from prominent female Chicana artists with roots in San Antonio.

Rachel can be heard on The Polyphonic Spree’s 2023 album, Salvage Enterprise, as well as on Swans 2016 record, The Glowing Man. She recorded as second flute on the upcoming album by the United States Air Force Band of the West, Beyond the Blue. Additionally, she can be heard playing principal and bass flute on the GIA Windworks label, Canvases and Offerings with the UNT Wind Symphony, as well as on the widely released Classical Structures with the University of Michigan Symphony Band on Equilibrium Records. She has been a founding member of multiple new music groups in Ann Arbor and Los Angeles and has premiered numerous new works for flute and piccolo, including Paul Schoenfield’s Psychobird (A Sonatina for Piccolo and Piano) with the composer himself. Additionally, Rachel’s performing interests include Hindustani Classical Music exploration and composing for flute looping with effects.

Rachel is a sought-after clinician and performer and has been an invited Guest Artist for the 2025 Lamar Woodwind Day, 2024 Western Massachusetts Flute Festival and the 2022 Northeastern State University Instrumental Day. She has conducted masterclasses and recitals throughout Argentina and Chile, and at The University of Michigan, The University of Alabama, The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of North Texas, University of North Carolina Greensboro, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Bowling Green State University, Texas Christian University, University of Oregon, SUNY Potsdam, Baylor University, Oklahoma State University, and many others. She has given clinics and recitals at the Austin Flute Society’s Festival, Texas Flute Society’s Festival, Texas Summer Flute Symposium, and Floot Fire camps. She has served on the judging panels for major flute competitions including the NFA Young Artist Competition, Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Convention, Texas Flute Society’s Myrna Brown Competition, and VOCE Competition (San Diego).

Rachel received her Bachelor of Music at the University of Michigan, Master of Music at Bowling Green State University, and Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of North Texas with a related field in Ethnomusicology. Her mentors include Amy Porter, Dr. Conor Nelson, Terri Sundberg, Dr. James Scott, Marianne Gedigian, and Karen Reynolds.

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Projects and Affiliates

UTSA School of Music

Duo 彩 AYA

The Polyphonic Spree

Fall 2024 / Spring 2025 Calendar

Spring/Summer 2025

JUN 5-7 Principal Flute

Victoria Bach Festival

Victoria, TX

MAY 25 Duo 彩 AYA

Album Release Recital

Tokyo, Japan

MAY 17 Duo 彩 AYA Recital

Temple Ichikawa

Shiba, Japan

APRIL 18 Duo 彩 AYA Alum Released

on all streaming platforms!

MARCH 21-22 Principal Flute

San Antonio Philharmonic

Scottish Rite Theater

7:30PM

MARCH 19 UTSA New Music Festival

7:30PM

MARCH 15 Southwest Guitar Symposium

UTSA Recital Hall

7:30PM

MARCH 15 Principal Flute

San Antonio Philharmonic

Harry Potter in Concert

Majestic Theater

2pm

MARCH 14 Principal Flute

San Antonio Philharmonic

Harry Potter in Concert

Majestic Theater

7:30PM

MARCH 1 Guest Artist

Lamar Woodwind Day

Lamar University

FEB 15-16 SOLI 30X30X30 Showcase

Trinity University

JAN 19-20 Salon Concerts

Austin, TX

Fall 2024

DEC 17-18 Principal Flute

Air Force Band of the West

Holiday in Blue

Tobin Center

NOV 23 The Polyphonic Spree

Headlining 2024 Deep Ellum Block Party

NOV 15 Second Flute

New Orchestra Washington

Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.

7:30pm

SEP 27 Guest Artist Performance

Universidad de Talca

Talca, Chile

SEP 24 Performance and Masterclass

Universidad Alberto Hurtado

Santiago, Chile

SEP 21 World Flutes Festival

Teatro Indenpendencia

Mendoza, Argentina

SEP 19 World Flutes Festival

Le Parc Espacio Cultural

Mendoza, Argentina

SEP 13-14 Principal Flute

San Antonio Philharmonic

Classics 1

First Baptist Church of San Antonio

AUG 3 Principal Flute

San Antonio Philharmonic

National Flute Association Convention Saturday Night Gala

San Antonio, TX

AUG 2 Lux Aeterna by George Crumb for five masked musicians

National Flute Association Convention, George Crumb Tribute

San Antonio, TX

AUG 1 Principal Flute

United States Air Force Band of the West

National Flute Association Convention Thursday Night Gala

San Antonio, TX

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