Rachel Ellis began her musical training at the Kent Junior Music School in Maidstone on Saturday mornings where she studied with Gillian Sansom. From there she won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music where she studied with Jaroslav Vanecek for five years. On leaving college she worked with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra for a short spell, taught and coached for Hounslow Borough Council and played second violin in the Dove String quartet for an intense three years, before marrying her husband Hugo and moving to Hurtwood House School in Surrey. They moved from the school to settle in Broadbridge Heath, Horsham and since then she has continued to teach privately and enjoy chamber music with other local musicians. Rachel has taught at Christ’s Hospital School since 2003 and has led the Horsham Symphony Orchestra since 2007.

Twelve years ago Rachel was gifted a beautiful 250 year old un-named Italian instrument by her father, which has given her playing a new lease of life, and since then she has enjoyed increasing amounts of solo and chamber music performing. Most rewardingly with colleagues from Christ’s Hospital, and The Brighton Chamber Ensemble.

In the last ten years Rachel has been one of the driving forces behind the set up and development of Horsham Performers Platform, which seeks to encourage budding musicians of all ages and stages in their development.

In 2017 Rachel took a six month sabbatical to Uganda, where she was teaching and performing for the Kampala Music School. Whilst in Africa she also visited Kenya where she coached and played as soloist with The Nairobi Orchestra.