Biography
Clare Rachel Greener began singing at the age of seven, beginning in St Margaret's Church, Buxted, East Sussex. Aged 11, Rachel joined the acclaimed choir of St Dunstan's Parish Church, Mayfield, under Kenneth Pont, recording several services for the BBC. Whilst at St Leonards-Mayfield School, Rachel toured France as a soprano soloist singing in Neufchâtel-en-Bray, Rouen Cathedral and Notre-Dame, Paris. Having become Head Chorister of Schola Cantorum 1 at 17, she sang Brahms' Requiem under the baton of Sir David Willcocks.
Rachel moved to North Yorkshire in 2002, where she has sung in several choirs including that of Selby Abbey; she now sings with the choir of Howden Minster. Rachel continues to develop her solo career and was recently awarded her DipLCM, upper level, in Classical Singing Performance.
In October 2011, she was invited to the Greek island of Rhodes where she sang at three Catholic masses at St Francis Cathedral and the Church of Santa Maria; she was the guest solo artist in a concert with Rhodes Municipal Choir and a choir from Königshofen, Germany.
Solo engagements
Oratorio
Rachel has sung the solo soprano roles in several oratorios, including Messiah, Poulenc Stabat Mater and Gloria, and two Christmas Oratorios (Bach and Saint-Saëns). Having sung John Rutter's Magnificat in Howden Minster last autumn, Rachel will perform the work again in Whitkirk Parish Church, Leeds on 28 April 2012.
Gilbert and Sullivan
Rachel is a Gilbert and Sullivan specialist. In 2007 she co-founded Jorvik Gilbert and Sullivan Company; her principal roles include Casilda and Fiametta (The Gondoliers), Phyllis (Iolanthe), Aline (The Sorcerer), Ella (Patience), Yum-Yum (The Mikado) and the title role in Princess Ida. She made her directorial debut for Jorvik GSC's maiden production of Patience in 2009. Rachel's next performance will be as Yum-Yum in Singalong The Mikado on 18 March 2012 in the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York.