Dr. Rachel Franklin

Introducing Inside the Classics with Dr. Rachel Franklin – Online!

Go beyond the stage before you even take your seat. Inside the Classics has long been a favorite for concertgoers at Strathmore. This season, wherever you’re joining us, you can bring more depth and insight to the music you’ll be hearing. As a classical and jazz concert pianist, BSO Scholar in Residence Dr. Rachel Franklin takes a closer look at the pieces and the composers behind them with her acclaimed wit and deep expertise in classical music.

Bio

British-born pianist Rachel Franklin is a renowned performer, music lecturer and teacher. As a Pro Musicis International Award winner, she gave her solo debuts in Carnegie Recital Hall, New York, and Jordan Hall, Boston. The Boston Globe enthused about her “beautiful differentiations of color, touch and texture” and described a performance on her solo debut CD as “not inferior…to the recorded performances by Cortot and Rubinstein.” She has also given European Pro Musicis solo debuts in Paris and Rome. At the Wigmore Hall, London, critics applauded her “stunning individuality,” “exquisite dynamic control,” and “amazing power and solidity of technique.” The Washington Post and Baltimore Sun have praised her “cool-headed bravura and panache” and the “warmth and electricity in her playing.” Her concerto successes include the Columbia Orchestra, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Washington Sinfonietta, the Amadeus Orchestra, Piedmont, Frederick and U Mary Washington Symphony Orchestras, and many others.

As both soloist and ensemble artist, Rachel Franklin has concertized throughout Europe, Canada and the US, and has won many awards and prizes. She has performed on BBC Radio 3, on WQXR and WNYC in New York, WJHU in Baltimore, and Radio Telefis Eireann in Ireland. After being specially featured on NPR’s “Performance Today” program, she gave frequent spoken broadcasts for them. She is doubly talented as an accomplished jazz pianist and leads her own classical/jazz chamber ensemble SONOS, who have appeared widely throughout the region.

Deeply committed to musical outreach and education, Rachel has a busy dual career as a sought-after music speaker. One of the Smithsonian Associates’ most popular live-streaming lecturers, her topics explore intersections between classical and jazz music, film scores, and the fine arts. She is the Strathmore Music Scholar in Residence for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, giving all their Strathmore Hall pre-concert lectures, and in 2023 she appeared as one of the featured speakers at the world-renowned Aspen Ideas: Health Conference in Colorado. In addition she recently joined the roster of distinguished lecturers for New York’s 92nd Street Y’s “Roundtable” online platform.

Her wide range of musical expertise has brought her back repeatedly to enthusiastic audiences, including the Easton Academy Art Museum, the Chesapeake Film Festival and many others. For the past two New Years she has given the Plenary Lunchtime Performance for the prestigious Renaissance Weekend conference in Charleston, SC, and in May 2024 she presented a unique show on 90 years of film music Oscars for the Avalon Theatre Chevy Chase’s annual gala.

For two decades Dr. Franklin was also the Education Programs Lecturer and Online Content Advisor for the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, giving all the ASO’s pre-concert video “Chats” plus commentating for both the ASO’s live-streamed and pre-recorded concerts.

Much in demand as an inspiring artist-teacher, she enjoys giving master classes and judging competitions for gifted young musicians. She has taught at the Royal College of Music and the Peabody Conservatory, where she received her Doctorate of Musical Arts.

For more information visit www.rachelfranklin.com.