Rachel Valler | |
|---|---|
 Rachel Valler c1954 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Rachel Travers |
| Born | c1930 Sydney, Australia |
| Occupation | musician |
| Instrument | piano |
| Formerly of | Hazelwood Trio |
Rachel Valler OAM (b. c1930 [1] Sydney, Australia) is an Australian pianist. She was a member of the Hazelwood Trio.
Rachel Valler's parents, Sonia and Joseph Vallerstein, arrived in Australia from Russia in 1927. Valler was their only daughter, [2] born in Sydney. [3]
She studied piano from an early age, [4] performed with the Zionist Youth League during her teens as a solo pianist, [5] and was mentored by Ignaz Friedman until his death in 1948. [6] She also studied with Alexander Hmelnitsky. [7]
As a soloist, she performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and music clubs in 1951 aged 21. [1] [8] [9] That same year she received her Bachelor of Arts at Sydney University, [10] [11] and went onto gain a Diploma of Education from Melbourne University. [2]
She taught music and worked in the library at Ascham Girls School, [3] and won the State final of the ABC Concerto Competition in 1954. [12] Although she did not win the Commonwealth finals, she was commended for her "thoughtful, searching, sensitive playing" of Chopin. [13]
She travelled to London in the early 1950s, [3] and taught piano while studying with the Hungarian pianist Ilona Kabos. [3] While there, she was awarded the Commonwealth Medal in the Harriet Cohen International Competition for 1956. [3]
During the 1980s she was considered one of Australia's most distinguished classical musicians, alongside Donald Hazelwood and Anne Menzies. Together they performed as the Hazelwood Trio. [14]
She was also head teacher of English and Humanities, at Randwick Technical College. [15] [16]
In 1995 she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for service to music. [17]
She is married to Walter Travers. [18]
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