Our director, Rachel Pack
Rachel Pack grew up in Auburn, WA in a close-knit family. Singing in choirs since fourth grade, Rachel knew she wanted to teach music in sixth grade when her choral director let her be a section leader.
In high school, Rachel was in the chamber, concert, jazz, and a cappella choirs. Recognizing her love of music, Rachel’s choir director (and current Jet Cities member!), Karen (Frerichs) Caldwell, gave her the opportunity to teach the beginning level choir and direct them in concert. She also put Rachel in touch with the principal of a nearby middle school. There Rachel established and ran an after-school choir club during her junior and senior years of high school.
Rachel received a Bachelors of Music Education, with an emphasis in Choral Music, from Pacific Lutheran University in 2014, and has taught choir to students from kindergarten to high school in several school districts.
In high school, Rachel was in the chamber, concert, jazz, and a cappella choirs. Recognizing her love of music, Rachel’s choir director (and current Jet Cities member!), Karen (Frerichs) Caldwell, gave her the opportunity to teach the beginning level choir and direct them in concert. She also put Rachel in touch with the principal of a nearby middle school. There Rachel established and ran an after-school choir club during her junior and senior years of high school.
Rachel received a Bachelors of Music Education, with an emphasis in Choral Music, from Pacific Lutheran University in 2014, and has taught choir to students from kindergarten to high school in several school districts.
Rachel was introduced to barbershop music in high school, and immediately fell in love with the genre and the community. Her first barbershop quartet was The Four Get Me Nots, which won a wildcard spot by virtue of their high regional competition score, and competed at the 2015 Sweet Adelines International competition in Las Vegas, NV (you can see a video here!).
Rachel most recently sang with Renegade Quartet, which placed 8th internationally in the Sweet Adelines International Quartet Finals competition in St. Louis, MO, in October of 2018 and 2019 (video). Renegade also won the Pacific Northwest Harmony Sweepstakes in 2017, and competed nationally in California.
Rachel most recently sang with Renegade Quartet, which placed 8th internationally in the Sweet Adelines International Quartet Finals competition in St. Louis, MO, in October of 2018 and 2019 (video). Renegade also won the Pacific Northwest Harmony Sweepstakes in 2017, and competed nationally in California.
Additionally, Rachel has the honor of being one of two clinicians for Harmony Explosion Northwest, which is three days full of barbershop education and fun for young men and women, ages 13 to 25. HX, as it's known, offers these young men and women vocal instruction at an affordable price; an opportunity to sing with and learn from talented performers; a crash course in the intricacies of four- and eight-part, a cappella harmony; and, the opportunity to learn about singing technique and stage presence.
Rachel and her husband, Mike have their two parakeets, Mort and Gus, and a dog named Ollie. When not singing or practicing other musical skills, you might find her identifying spiders, playing pool, hiking, or watching nerdy SciFi shows.
Jet Cities has been proud to call Rachel our director since December, 2018. At our first contest together at April's North by Northwest Region 13 chorus contest, Rachel won the Novice Director Award, and led Jet Cities to a very respectable placement. We love her enthusiastic and thoughtful leadership, and her musical skills, as you can tell from her bio. Come and see her in action; visit a rehearsal soon!
Rachel and her husband, Mike have their two parakeets, Mort and Gus, and a dog named Ollie. When not singing or practicing other musical skills, you might find her identifying spiders, playing pool, hiking, or watching nerdy SciFi shows.
Jet Cities has been proud to call Rachel our director since December, 2018. At our first contest together at April's North by Northwest Region 13 chorus contest, Rachel won the Novice Director Award, and led Jet Cities to a very respectable placement. We love her enthusiastic and thoughtful leadership, and her musical skills, as you can tell from her bio. Come and see her in action; visit a rehearsal soon!
