Rachael Worby
Artistic Director & Conductor
Rachael Worby is celebrated in the orchestral community for her wide range of repertoire, exuberant style, talent and versatile command of musical genres.
In July 2011, she conducted the inaugural concert of MUSE/IQUE, a new orchestra in Southern California of which she is artistic director and conductor. MUSE/IQUE is the culmination of Rachael Worby's evolution as a dedicated orchestra builder.
MUSE/IQUE validates Ms. Worby's reputation as a musical visionary and fulfills her dream of recreating a concert experience for the 21st century audience. MUSE/IQUE creates live music events that inspire the creative spirit and engages community imagination. The organization's goals include strengthening community bonds, inspiring life-long cultural engagement, creating unforgettable music.
"Inspiring and Accessible" (Los Angeles Times) Rachael Worby is that rare conductor who is also a curator and a skilled communicator. Her dynamic energy, coupled with the highly successful results she has achieved with diverse organizations, has created a demand for her skills on the international level. As a guest conductor, she has led orchestras throughout Europe, South America, Australia and Asia.
Ms. Worby continues to create new and diverse community-based programming at the Broad Theatre in Santa Monica, California. A 2012 season highlight will include an orchestral concert in Washington D.C. in celebration of International Women's Day.
In 2006, at the invitation of acclaimed American soprano, Jessye Norman, Ms. Worby conducted both the China Philharmonic Orchestra in Beijing and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra accompanying Ms. Norman in her first appearances in mainland China. The programs presented Ms. Norman's signature arias to sold-out houses. The musical relationship between Ms. Norman and Ms. Worby continues to flourish. They appear together at music festivals and concert halls throughout the world.
During her tenure as Music Director of the Pasadena Pops from 2000-2010 Rachael Worby quadrupled the number of yearly concerts played, dramatically increased audience attendance, instituted annual free-to-the-public concerts on the steps of Pasadena City Hall, and secured dynamic corporate sponsorship. She expanded the institution's outreach programs to underserved communities, securing significant ongoing funding for programs in South Central Los Angeles and in Pasadena.
In 2009 at the request of the Festival's curator, Jessye Norman, Ms. Worby served on the Honorary Committee of Carnegie Hall's HONOR! Festival for which she served as artistic advisor for numerous events and served as guest panelist. She has been honored with many awards including the Spirit of Achievement from Albert Einstein College and the Women of Excellence award from the YWCA, the degree Doctor of Humanities, honorus causa from Marshall University, the degree of Doctor of Letters, honorus causa from Claremont University and the Presidential Medal of Honor for her consummate lifetime achievements from Claremont University.
Rachael Worby was honored to receive a Presidential appointment to the National Council of the Arts, on which she served for four years. In 1990 she was nominated for an ACE Award for two young peoples' orchestra programs she created, narrated and conducted for the Disney Channel.
In addition, as First Lady of West Virginia (1990-1997) Worby created and hosted the nationally-acclaimed Arts and Letters Series , an admission-free, live series, broadcast on public television which presented Carl Sagan, Tom Wicker, Jesse Jackson, Andrew Young, Bob Woodward, Taylor Branch, Harry Belafonte, The American Boy Choir and dozens of other luminaries. She also led a ground-breaking state-wide campaign, "Thanks A Million", to raise one million dollars to eradicate illiteracy and is responsible for the creation, in perpetuity, of The Governor's School for the Arts.
