Born in the north of England, Rachel Staunton is a conductor based in London, UK. She gained a choral scholarship to read music at Royal Holloway, University of London, where she graduated with a first-class honors degree.
After her postgraduate studies in Choral Conducting at London’s Royal Academy of Music, Rachel held the post of vocal director for In Harmony Opera North (Classic FM’s Music Education Project of the Year 2014) and spent several years establishing the Opera North Children’s Chorus. For over a decade Rachel worked as Assistant Director and Conductor with The National Youth Choirs of Great Britain. Something of a choral entrepreneur, Rachel was instrumental in founding the London Youth Choirs (LYC) in 2012.
As the Artistic Director of LYC Rachel is passionate about using singing to unlock young people’s potential. She is dedicated to making singing opportunities available to all children, and has a particular passion for working with children who might not otherwise get a chance. In 2018 Rachel was made Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, in recognition of her contribution to choral music and work with young people. Rachel was shortlisted for the 2023 Francesca Hanley Inspiration Award in the Music & Drama Education Awards.