Rachael Stutzman Cohen

Rachael Stutzman is a passionate performer and avid teacher of music. She currently holds the position of Second Clarinet with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and frequently performs with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra and the Sarasota Orchestra. Previously, Rachael held the position of Bass Clarinet with the Kansas City Symphony. She has also performed with such prestigious orchestras as the Pittsburgh Symphony, Pittsburgh Opera, Aspen Music Festival and Britt Festival Orchestra and been led under the batons of Christoph von Dohnányi, Gerard Schwarz, Tito Muños and James Gaffigan.

Rachael is proud to be a founding member of the Trillium Ensemble, Pittsburgh’s only flute, clarinet and piano trio. Trillium allows Rachael to explore her enthusiasm for musical collaboration and support new music. The trio performs contemporary music across the Pittsburgh region and works with budding student musicians from middle school to college age. She has premiered works by Federico Garcia, Nathan Hall, Matthew Heap, Mark Fromm, Scott Steele, and David Bennett Thomas. 

At the university level, Rachael has taught at Slippery Rock University (PA) as well as given master classes at Truman State University (MO) and the University of South Florida. She received her BFA and MAM from Carnegie Mellon University, where she studied with Thomas Thompson of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Rachael has also studied with Ron Samuels, Dick Page, Dennis Smylie, and Paul Demers.

When Rachael is not performing, she enjoys cooking with her husband and long distance running.