BIO
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Praised by the Los Angeles Times as a “versatile violinist,” Grammy-nominated musician Rachel Iba is a Los Angeles-based musician, conductor, performance artist and educator whose career reflects the diverse creative landscape of the Southern California art scene. From performing and lecturing at Walt Disney Concert Hall, to showcasing her distinct blend of stand up comedy and performance art in clubs across the city - it’s safe to say that Iba’s unique artistic voice transcends traditional boundaries.
As a violinist, Iba performs regularly with leading ensembles including the Grammy-nominated Wild Up, Brightwork newmusic, and is the concertmaster of Derrick Skye’s award-winning Bridge to Everywhere ensemble - with whom she made the recording and REDCAT premiere of Skye’s Mind the Rhythm for solo violin and electronics. She has been featured on NPR with world-folk band Primero Sueño, and is a regular studio musician for film and television. Iba is also an accomplished baroque violinist, and plays regularly with Musica Angelica, LA Camerata, Musica Transalpina and has performed with Jeannette Sorrell and members of Apollo’s Fire. Rachel is passionate about using art as a way to examine larger systemic imbalances. In her original work, she integrates music, standup comedy and clownwork to explore intersectional feminism, environmentalism, classism, and performance psychology. She has performed at the Kennedy Center, REDCAT, the Troubadour, Walt Disney Concert Hall, ArtShare LA, the Lyric Hyperion, and numerous other venues within the US and abroad. As an educator, Rachel is the Artistic Director and principal conductor of the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Orchestra - a groundbreaking program that introduces young musicians to contemporary and cross-cultural music alongside traditional western classical repertoire. Under her leadership, the group made their Carnegie Hall debut in April 2024.. She has taught and lectured extensively in performance & music history, appearing with institutions such as California Institute of the Arts, Mount St. Mary's University, Ventura College, Longy School of Music, Palaver Strings, the Walden School Young Musicians Program, and is on the violin faculty of Kinhaven Music School. Iba is also a regular pre-concert lecturer for the LA Philharmonic, and her talks can be heard on the Upbeat Live podcast. She holds degrees from California Institute of the Arts and Oberlin Conservatory, where she was awarded the Marilyn McDonald scholarship and the Louis and Annette Kaufman violin prize. 
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Selected Recordings
CONDUCTING
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"Playful, precise & exuberant, Rachel exudes a joy on the podium that is contagious. Particularly in her work with young musicians, her strength lies in her innovative programming, fun & engaging rehearsal style, and her capacity to keep students connected to a deeper sense of purpose in what they are doing."
- Derrick Skye, Artistic Advisor, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Rachel is currently the Artistic Director and principal conductor of the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Orchestra - a groundbreaking program that introduces young musicians to contemporary and cross-cultural music alongside traditional western classical repertoire. Under Rachel's leadership, the group made their Carnegie Hall debut this past April.
Recent guest conducting engagements include leading the inaugural Kennebec Valley Music Educator's Association festival string orchestra in Waterville, ME, the Santa Monica Youth Orchestra, and conducting the grammy-nominated Wild Up Ensemble (covering for Christopher Rountree) for the world premiere of Andrew McIntosh's Fixations. 
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STAND UP
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Rachel has performed standup comedy & clown all over Los Angeles, in venues such as the Troubadour, the Lyric Hyperion, the Clubhouse, and more. Her work integrates traditional stand-up, clown and (sometimes) music to explore topics like performance psychology, feminism, shame, pretension, and on occasion, farts.
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PROJECTS
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© 2025 by Rachel Iba