Friday, June 13th

Rachelle Courtney is a Canadian jazz singer and music educator with over 15 years' experience teaching musical theatre and contemporary voice to professional and aspiring singers.

Recipient of the 2023 Forest City London Music Award for Jazz Vocals, Rachelle attributes her success as a jazz singer to the years she spent studying music at Humber College in Toronto with some of the finest jazz musicians in the country. In complement to her jazz background, Rachelle also holds a Diploma of Music Theatre from the Randolph College for the Performing Arts, which has significantly informed her performing practice, and is evident in her captivating stage presence, and ability to find the emotion and intention in a song's lyric. Her understanding of jazz has been shaped not only by the training she received from world-class musicians and educators, but also by the opportunities she has been given to perform and be part of the broader jazz community. From choral ensembles to big bands, Rachelle has enjoyed a rewarding career performing and collaborating with many different groups. She has been a featured singer with the Swing Shift Big Band at venues such as The Rex, and the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, and has recorded accompanying vocals for singer Lori Cullen on her album "Buttercup Bugle", with performances at Hugh's Room and the Harbourfront Centre Theatre. She has graced the stage in her hometown at the Westben Arts Festival Theatre, and Stirling Festival Theatre; and has performed as both a lounge singer and main-stage vocalist aboard Holland America and Celebrity cruise lines, touring the world and developing an international following. Her debut album "Unforgettable" has been featured on Toronto's Jazz FM91 and other radio stations across the country.

In addition to performing, Rachelle holds a Masters of Music Education from Western University where she has worked as a teaching assistant and vocal coach. She loves working with youth, and enthusiastically devotes her time as a voice teacher and adjudicator to young students pursuing careers in musical theatre and contemporary music. Rachelle is a contributor to the Conservatory Canada Contemporary Voice Exam Syllabus, and is a member of both the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and the Ontario Registered Music Teachers' Association.

Rachelle lives in Southwestern Ontario with her jazz pianist husband, Nevin Campbell, and three daughters. She enjoys performing locally at concert halls, festivals, restaurants, and private functions.