Rachel is artist in residence for the Liberty Music Program which works with children and families affected by the tsunami of 2011 bringing the hope of the gospel through music. She will be teaching violin and music to students in the schools of Ishinomaki as well as the community at large. She will also be supporting the local churches by organizing concerts and helping with music in the church. One of her goals is to establish bridges between the local churches and non-believing community as well as with other artists.

Rachel Reese's Professional Bio
Rachel Reese graduated with a music degree from Belhaven University in 2010 under the instruction of Professor Song Xie. She participated as the concertmistress of the Belhaven Chamber Ensemble and the Belhaven and Jackson Area Orchestra. She received a full scholarship to the Kennedy Center’s Summer Music Institute and was awarded principal second violin in summer of 2007. Competitions include second prize in the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artists Competition, first prize in the MMTA concerto division, and she was chosen as the representative of the state of Mississippi in the ASTA and MNTA competitions. She was also awarded a scholarship by the Mississippi Federation of Music Clubs. She won a second violin position in the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra in their 2008/2009 season. She has enjoyed playing not only in various parts of her home country, The United States but also in Trujillo and Cajamarca, Peru, where she taught and performed for two years and in various parts of Japan. She currently plays with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and teaches in the Jackson, MS area. She is looking to work with Mission to the World as an artist in residence with the Liberty Music Program in Ishinomaki, Japan in 2014-2016.