Rachel Valler

Rachel Valler's parents, Sonia and Joseph Vallerstein, arrived in Australia from Russia in 1927. Valler was their only daughter,[2] born in Sydney.[3]

She studied piano from an early age,[4] performed with the Zionist Youth League during her teens as a solo pianist,[5] and was mentored by Ignaz Friedman until his death in 1948.[6]

As a soloist, she performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and music clubs in 1951 aged 21.[1][7][8] That same year she received her Bachelor of Arts at Sydney University,[9][10] and went onto gain a Diploma of Education from Melbourne University.[2]

She taught music and worked in the library at Ascham Girls School,[3] and won the State final of the ABC Concerto Competition in 1954.[11] Although she did not win the Commonwealth finals, she was commended for her "thoughtful, searching, sensitive playing" of Chopin.[12]

She travelled to London in the early 1950s,[3] and taught piano while studying with the Hungarian pianist Ilona Kabos.[3] While there, she was awarded the Commonwealth Medal in the Harriet Cohen International Competition for 1956.[3]

During the 1980s she was considered one of Australia's most distinguished classical musicians, alongside Donald Hazelwood and Anne Menzies. Together they performed as the Hazelwood Trio.[13]

She was also head teacher of English and Humanities, at Randwick Technical College.[14][15]

In 1995 she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for service to music.[16]

She is married to Walter Travers.[17]