Biography
Described as "fearless" by Yo-Yo Ma in an interview with South China morning post, Australian born Rachel Siu has been making her mark all around the world. Rachel started learning the cello at the age of five with Renat Yusupov. Encouraged by her father, a devoted music lover, she chose the cello - drawn to its size after watching a recording of a Bach Brandenburg Concerto. Rachel completed both her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees under the tutelage of Joel Krosnick at The Juilliard School, where she was a Kovner Fellow, and a recipient of the William Schuman Commencement Prize for outstanding leadership and achievement during her time at Juilliard. Her previous teachers include Peter Rejto and Susan Blake.
Rachel’s solo career began at age seven with a debut at the Sydney Town Hall. Since then, she has performed across Europe, Asia, America, and Australia, soloing with numerous orchestras, including the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, The Juilliard Orchestra, and LGT Young Soloists, working under the baton of conductors such as Thomas Adès, and Long Yu. She has performed in iconic venues, including Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, Elbphilharmonie, Alice Tully Hall, Xinghai Concert Hall, Royal Albert Hall, and the Musikverein.
A multi-award winning cellist, Rachel’s honors include the Gold Medal at the VIII David Popper International Cello Competition in Varpalota, Hungary and The Juilliard School Concerto Competition, where she performed Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor with The Juilliard Orchestra and Maestro Thomas Adès. She premiered a movement of Julian Gargiulo’s Cello Sonata No.2 at Carnegie Hall for thé Getting to Carnegie International Competition, winning first prize, and was also a prizewinner at the IX Carlos Prieto International Cello Competition in Morelia, Mexico. In 2020, Rachel received the MLC School Sydney Alumni Award for Outstanding International Achievements.
An avid chamber musician, Rachel currently performs as a member of Australia’s renowned Streeton Trio. She has collaborated with esteemed musicians such as Glenn Dicterow and Karen Dreyfus. She has also been coached by prominent artists including Emanuel Ax, Pamela Frank, Hsin-Yun Huang, Yo-Yo Ma, and Laurie Smukler.
Rachel has played in masterclasses for remarkable cellists such as David Geringas, Lynn Harrell, Frans Helmerson, Steven Isserlis, and Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt. As a dedicated educator, she has taught privately and at institutions like the Sydney Conservatorium of Music - University of Sydney, where she currently holds a position teaching both tertiary and Rising Star’s students.
In January of 2019, Rachel travelled with select cellists from all around the world for the Scandinavian Cello School to perform at the Musikverein for the 78th Vienna Philharmonic.
She was a recipient of the Australian Music Foundation Nora Goodridge Young Artist Award, and and is currently as recipient of the Australian Music Foundation Richard Bonynge Award.
Rachel was born into a creative family, although she is the only musician. She finds joy in rock climbing, outdoor activities in general, reading, and baking, and has recently been making resin pieces for friends and family.