Rachel Mahon is Assistant Director of Music at Coventry Cathedral in the UK, where she accompanies and conducts the Cathedral Choir and curates the organ recitals and visiting choirs. Prior to this, she was Assistant Organist at Chester Cathedral (UK) where she worked regularly with the Cathedral Choir. The Choir's album "Choral Classics from Chester", which features Rachel on the organ, has just been released on the Priory Label.
She combines life as a Cathedral musician with a busy international recital schedule, touring as soloist and as part of Organized Crime Duo. Recent and upcoming engagements include an opening concert for the Montreal Symphony; St Alban's Cathedral, UK; Royal Canadian College of Organists' National Convention 2016; Orgelsommer Festivals 2016 & 2017, St Michaelis Church, Lueneburg, Germany; Temple Church, London, UK (presented by the Keyboard Trust); St Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, New York City; Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria, BC; Pro Organo, Ottawa, ON; Westminster United Church, Winnipeg; The Toronto Bach Festival 2018; Haderslev Cathedral, Denmark; and Trinity College, Cambridge.
Rachel was Organ Scholar at St Paul's Cathedral in London, England from 2014-2016, the first female organist in its 1400-year history. As one of the full time organists, she gave recitals and regularly played and conducted for services, working with the world famous Cathedral Choir in the daily cycle of worship as well as services of National significance.
Rachel has won numerous awards and competitions in Canada, including a graduating scholarship from the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto and the Godfrey Hewitt Memorial Scholarship from the Royal Canadian College of Organists. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance from the University of Toronto, where she studied with Professor John Tuttle. Whilst pursuing her degree, Rachel was the Bevan Organ Scholar at Trinity College, Toronto, as well as the Principal Organist at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church. She has also held organ scholarships at St James Cathedral, Toronto and Truro Cathedral, UK. In 2014, she was named one of the top 30 musicians under 30 in Canada by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Rachel currently studies with Henry Fairs at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
In 2012, Rachel and fellow organist Sarah Svendsen founded the duo Organized Crime and the two organists aim to entertain audiences with their music and crazy antics. The pair had a successful Canadian tour last summer, culminating in the opening concert of the Montreal Organ Festival, and will be performing at the RCCO National Convention in Halifax, July 2019. More information may be found at organizedcrimeduo.com.