Rachel Handlin
Strings Program Director
Suzuki and Traditional Violin, Viola
Rachel holds a BM and an MM in violin performance from NIU, and has Suzuki training in books 1-10. Rachel currently serves as the Music Academy (MA) String Program Director, conducts Measure 5 (the MA performing group), and teaches private violin lessons. In addition to her teaching duties, Rachel is Assistant Concertmaster of the Rockford Symphony Orchestra, faculty violin instructor for Lutheran Summer Music Program (a four week summer camp) and is a frequent substitute with the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra. Rachel performs with various groups in the Chicago/Milwaukee/Rockford areas, and her violin students have been selected by audition to join the Advanced Violin Ensemble and Violin Masterclass for the National Biennial Suzuki Conferences in Minneapolis, MN. Rachel has traveled with Music Academy students to Japan, Minneapolis, San Antonio, the Grand Canyon, Alaska, and Iceland where the students also performed. Rachel's husband, Michael Beert, is an MA cello instructor and their daughter, Aria Beert, took early childhood classes and studied violin, voice, and piano at MA.