Guided by the belief that orchestras are living ecosystems shaped by human connection, American conductor Rachel Waddell brings dynamic, collaborative leadership to the podium.
Her international credits include being selected by Yannick Nézet-Séguin to lead the Orchestre Métropolitain at Domaine Forget as a conducting showcase winner. Nationally, she has guest conducted the Rochester, Las Vegas, and Denver Philharmonics, and the Greater Bridgeport Symphony, building from a professional foundation that includes five years as Associate Conductor of the Canton Symphony Orchestra.
Currently serving as Director of Orchestras at Colorado State University and Music Director of the Longmont Youth Symphony, Rachel recently launched The CONCERT Program, a collaborative initiative with the Colorado Symphony. Co-founder of Conductors for Change, a Carlos Miguel Prieto Conducting Fellow, 2026 GRAMMY Music Educator Award Semi-Finalist, and two-time winner of the American Prize in Orchestral Programming, Rachel holds a DMA from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
