People

Rachel Thoms

Rachael Thoms is a vocalist, researcher, and collaborator whose practice is built around the live encounter. Equally at home in jazz, classical, and contemporary music, she brings to every project an improvisatory attentiveness — the ability to listen deeply, adapt, and co-create in the moment.
She has performed as a soloist at many major Australian cultural institutions with broadcast credits on ABC Television and ABC Classic FM, and has appeared alongside celebrated artists such as George Benson, Vince Jones, Lior, Andrea Keller, Steve Barry, The Song Company, Erin Helyard, Lisa Moore, and the late Rob Guest. Her recording work spans original and improvisation-led projects, including The Great Unknown (2011), Nothing but Blue Skies (2017), and Andrea Keller’s Flicker & Polar Bird (2023).
Rachael holds a PhD from the Australian National University and brings over fifteen years of experience in higher music education to an active private teaching studio. Her research into improvisation, vocal pedagogy, and responsive performance underpins a practice built on collaboration and exchange.