Singer
Songwriter
Pianist

Rachel's Website

About Rachel

Described by The Los Angeles Times as possessing “angelic grace and voice,” Rachel Gaudry is an Australian singer-songwriter-pianist whose expressive, melodic songs weave together intimate lyrics and sensuous folk-pop melodies. With a varied musical background in jazz, classical piano and performance, Rachel's music displays both a sophistication and down-to-earth quality that resonates emotion. Her musical journey has been an exciting one so far, with recent adventures taking her from Australia to Japan to North America and back again.

Rachel was born on Christmas Day in Australia's capital Canberra, the youngest of nine children. She began piano lessons at the age of six and at eleven won a music scholarship to attend a boarding school in rural New South Wales. She immersed herself in musical theatre, choirs, piano exams and singing. At seventeen, she spent a year travelling in Europe before returning to Australia to study jazz performance at the Canberra School of Music. After graduating from the CSM with a Diploma of Music (Jazz) and completing two Associate Diplomas in Piano Performance, she moved to Sydney.

In 1999, Rachel won a songwriting development award/travel grant in the inaugural Johnny Dennis Music Awards, judged by APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) and the AGSC (Australian Guild of Screen Composers). The prize took her on her first tour of the USA which included a performance at the CMJ festival and Australian Consulate in New York City.

In 2000, Rachel was a grand finalist on the hit TV show ‘Star Struck’ (Channel Nine, Australia), performing her original songs. Later the same year, after receiving an International Pathways grant from the Australia Arts Council, she made a second tour of the USA and Canada, performing at the NXNE music festival in Toronto, and at venues on the east and west coast of the USA.

In 2001, and after spending four months performing and writing in Hong Kong, Rachel released her critically-acclaimed debut album ‘Leaving Traces,’ produced by Chad Wackerman, best-known for his twelve-year tenure as Frank Zappa’s drummer. In 2002, Rachel signed a licensing deal with American label Virt Records for the release of ‘Leaving Traces’ in North America. She subsequently played an extensive 18-city, 22-date tour of the USA, performing at many popular venues including The Bitter End (New York City), House of Blues (Boston) and The Mint (Los Angeles). In 2005, the 'Leaving Traces' album was released in Taiwan on the Noble Music label.

In 2003, following four months of songwriting and performing overseas, this time in Japan, Rachel released her second and most recent album ‘Bright Window.’ Produced by guitarist, songwriter and producer Sam Hawksley, the album (featuring, as on the first album, Chad Wackerman on drums and Leon Gaer on bass), received fine reviews for its "lovingly-crafted songs" (Sydney Morning Herald).

Rachel's songwriting talent has been recognized with a Johnny Dennis Music Award and numerous grants from the Australia Arts Council. In 2004, she was a Top 10 Finalist in the Musicoz Awards and was also nominated for the APRA 'Songwriter of the Year' Award.

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