The recorder player Rachel Barnes was born in Sheffield, England in 1972. She completed studies at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Utrechts Conservatorium, and Goldsmiths College, University of London. Her recorder tutors have included Alan Davis, Reine-Marie Verhagen and Ashley Solomon.
She is a professional recorder player who specialises exclusively in the commission and performance of contemporary music. She has given first performances of both dedicated and commissioned works by James Erber, Donald Bousted, and Brian Inglis.
Her repertoire also includes works by Luciano Berio, Franco Donatoni, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Christopher Fox, John Cage, Toshio Hosokawa, Michael Zev Gordon, Graham Fitkin, Richard Ayres, and Louis Andriessen.
Significant performances in 2002 and 2003 were at State of the Nation (South Bank Centre, London), and on Resonance FM (London broadcast). "revelatory and hugely enjoyable. Rachel Barnes is one of the new breed of recorder virtuosi." www.Classicalsource.com