Rachel Cornacchio

Born and raised in Millinocket, ME, school and church music have long been a part of my life.  These formative experiences are now captivated in my own musicianship and musical mission: everyone can sing.

Making music in and with community is one of my core, musical values. I strongly believe that the majority of people enjoy singing! And, knowing that there are powerful emotional and physiological benefits of singing, they should sing. But, at some point in time, a majority of that majority was told that they could not.

I am the teacher who, instead of turning someone away who "cannot sing", finds a place for them to sing so that they can learn how to sing beautifully.

In 2016, I had the privilege to be asked to help start the Sing for the Moment Choir which is a choir comprised of persons with memory loss and their care partners. Many participants "couldn't sing" and had never participated in choir before. However, knowing the benefits singing had on their loved ones, they sang as well. In 2004, my maternal grandmother, Blanche, passed from complications of Alzheimer's Disease. Blanche loved to sing, though her talents were questionable, and she sang up until her last days. #everyonecansing

In 2018, through the support of my instituation, Messiah University, I founded and continue to conduct the Threefold Cord Women's Choir. This multi-generational ensemble is representative of various locations along the east coast; participants gather twice a year to rehearse and perform all in one day. These mothers, daughters, wives, mentors, and students find one day out of their busy schedules to do what brings them great joy - sing. Along with serving the participants through their mission - "A threefold cord is not quickly broken (Ecc. 4:12b)" - the choir serves other women in their community. For each performance, the choir chooses a local organization that supports women's issues to partner with and support financially. All proceeds from the concerts go directly to these groups. While these women do not participate as singers in the group, they are still part of the choir. #everyonecansing