ROCmusic, a collaborative and innovative arts-outreach program that engages children and their families in the experience of making and appreciating classical music, has hired Rachel Mills as its new Executive and Artistic Director, as of July 2022.  Mills joined the ROCmusic faculty in January 2019 as lead cello teaching artist, arriving with a diverse background of music education and performance experience. Since then, the cello program has expanded to include both a beginner and intermediate track and has successfully produced an annual Cello Day serving the Greater Rochester community. In addition, Mills has been on the cello faculty at The Hochstein School since 2019.

Previously, Mills served as a secondary lesson instructor at Oberlin College, as well as an Oberlin College String Prep Department teacher for community students in the Oberlin, Ohio area. She has also held positions at the Roberts Community Music School through Roberts Wesleyan College and The Music Store, Inc. Mills is passionate about equal access to high level music education. She has thrice traveled to Panama to perform and teach with Cuarteto Girasol through the national concert association there. In 2019 and 2020 she was invited to perform and teach at the SA’ Oaxaca Strings International Music Festival in Mexico.

“My experiences abroad reinforced the notion that anyone, no matter the age, background, or ability, can and should have the opportunity to learn to make music if the desire is there,” states Mills. “I am continually inspired by the determination and energy in our ROCmusic students. In stepping into this new role, I hope to continue expanding their opportunities for growth and immersion in the music world.”

Mills received a bachelor degree in cello performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. She continued higher education studies at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague in the Netherlands where she was a recipient of a Holland Scholarship and an Excellence Scholarship. A native of Rochester, NY, Mills grew up through Hochstein’s honors certificate program. She has been a featured soloist with the Hochstein Youth, Penfield, and Genesee symphony orchestras, as well as performed on the “Live from Hochstein” radio show and Hochstein’s Spotlight on Faculty recital series.

Gary Palmer, Assistant Director and Dean of The Hochstein School, says “Rachel Mills is a long-standing member of the Hochstein community – first as a distinguished student as a Merit Scholarship recipient and Honors Certificate Program graduate, and more recently as a valued faculty member. Ms. Mills has already displayed her dedication to ROCmusic as a teacher in the program, and it is exciting to see her moving into the leadership role. ROCmusic will benefit tremendously from her wealth of experience as an educator and performer, as well as her commitment to the Rochester community.” Hochstein President & Executive Director Hilary Field Respass adds, “I’m so pleased to see Rachel Mills moving into this new role – especially as a Hochstein alum – and look forward to collaborating with her in this incredibly important work.”

Curtis Long, President and CEO of Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, notes, "It is fantastic  to see someone with extensive experience in the Rochester music education world--both as student and teacher--taking this leadership role.  Great things have been happening in the ROCmusic program and we are excited to see where Rachel Mills takes the program from here ."

Jamal Rossi, Joan and Martin Messinger Dean of the Eastman School of Music, says, “Rachel Mills’ appointment signifies a new and exciting chapter for ROCmusic. Rachel’s previous work with ROCmusic, her  ties to the Rochester community, as well as her extensive teaching and performing experience, make her a true asset to ROCmusic families and the organization as a whole.”

“City of Rochester and the Department of Recreation and Human Services is pleased to welcome Rachel Mills to the role of Executive and Artistic Director of the ROCmusic Program,” shares Dr. Shirley Green, Commissioner of Recreation and Human Services.

ROCmusic is a partnership between The Hochstein School, Eastman School of Music (University of Rochester), Eastman Community Music School, Gateways Music Festival, City of Rochester, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Rochester City School District.

Established in 2012, ROCmusic recently expanded to all four quadrants of Rochester, giving every student a better opportunity to receive musical instruction.  ROCmusic is looking forward, constantly working to better serve the community, and growing to serve more and more people in the city of Rochester.

Full press release can be found here, and interviews available upon request.