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Raised in a musical family, Rachel Thomas began playing trombone at age ten and never looked back. Completely immersed in music, she spent her high school and university summers either at the National Youth Orchestra of Canada or The Banff School of Fine Arts. Rachel earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toronto as a student of Gordon Sweeney, Principal Trombone of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Upon graduation, she joined the Great Lakes Brass Quintet, a highly acclaimed national touring ensemble. In addition, Rachel was a regular extra with the TSO for over twenty years, joining them on two European tours, several trips to Carnegie Hall, and can be heard on two Finlandia recordings.

After receiving a Canada Council grant to study with Joseph Alessi, Principal Trombone, New York Philharmonic, she won the position of Second Trombone with the Kitchener-À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Symphony, where she has performed for over 29 seasons.

Rachel continues to be a highly sought-after freelancer. She performed with the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra as Acting Principal and played with the Monarch Brass Ensemble at the International Women’s Brass Conference on several occasions. She has worked with numerous orchestras and festivals including the Hamilton Philharmonic, The Elora Festival, The Festival of the Sound, Stratford Summer Music, and esteemed brass groups, True North Brass and Hannaford Street Silver Band.

Rachel is honoured to be a part of Sounding Thunder: The Song of Francis Pegahmagabow a musical journey into the life of the renowned Ojibwe WWI sniper and decorated officer of the Canadian military, Francis Pegahmagabow which premiered at the Festival of the Sound in 2019 and is sill touring.

Among the myriad of interesting freelance gigs, Rachel can be heard on an episode of the hit show Murdoch Mysteries and made a brief(!) appearance in the Netflix series, The Umbrella Academy.

In 2003 Rachel joined the Faculty at Wilfrid Laurier University where she brings energy and enthusiasm to her trombone studio and conducts the WLU Trombone Choir.