Rachel Shaftman

pianist

Rachel Shaftman began studying piano at the age of five. She has studied with Larry Novak, Alan Swain, Ed Farran, Myung-Hee Chung, Melody Lord, and Skip Green. Ms. Shaftman holds a B.M. (2000) with a concentration in Jazz Studies, and an M.M. (2003) with a concentration in Jazz Performance, both from DePaul University.

Ms. Shaftman has performed at such Chicago venues as the LaSalle Bank (Schubert) Theater, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Park West, House of Blues Chicago, the Signature Lounge, and the Hot House. Her jazz trio, Wonderstone, features bassist Cory Biggerstaff and drummer John Barbush. She also performs as a soloist and freelances with various groups.

Rachel enjoys performing various styles of music, from classical piano repertoire to keyboards in rock cover bands. Rachel is an alternate in Jersey Boys where she plays keyboards and sings. Rachel has also performed as a pianist with Wavelength, a touring comedy troupe, since August 2004, and she recently joined the Chicago theater ensemble Barrel of Monkeys.

Ms. Shaftman teaches private piano lessons in her home studio. She was also on the faculty of DePaul University’s Community Music department from 2002-2005, where she taught piano in a program that provided free lessons to foster children in Chicago.