There Are No Gates: A Conversation with Rachel Jayson What if we stopped asking students to fit into the systems we've inherited—and started designing our ensembles around the students in front of us? In Episode 163 of The Orchestra Teacher Podcast, Dr. Charles Laux talks with Mx. Rachel Jayson, a GRAMMY-nominated music educator, violist, conductor, and artist whose work at Lexington High School in Massachusetts challenges many traditional assumptions about orchestra education. Rachel shares the story of their 18-year journey in Lexington, the influence of their mentor Janet Haas, and the process of developing an ensemble identity rooted in creativity, access, collaboration, and community. The conversation explores Rachel's innovative approach to seating and assessment, including chamber-style auditions designed to reveal communication, balance, musicality, and ensemble awareness rather than simply measuring technical facility. They also discuss rotating students through different seats, peer mentorship, student leadership, placing the bass in the center of the ensemble, and creating a culture where students understand that the orchestra belongs to all of them. A major theme of the conversation is Rachel's commitment to new and diverse repertoire. Rather than simply searching for existing music that fits their vision, Rachel commissions composers—including artists from rock, Balkan, bluegrass, jazz, and other musical worlds—to create new works for their students. The students aren't simply performers in this process. They become collaborators. Rachel also shares the remarkable journey of Kendrick, a commissioned work that eventually traveled from Lexington High School to Lincoln Center, the recording studio, social media audiences around the world, and ultimately the Brandenburg Symphony Orchestra in Germany. The conversation also explores Rachel's philosophy that students don't need permission, a degree, or a particular credential to become artists. They can simply make something. Whether it's composing a piece, creating visual art in response to music, making connections to literature, or discovering a personal relationship with a work written hundreds of years ago, Rachel encourages students to recognize that art is multidimensional—and that they have a place within it. This is a conversation about rethinking orchestra education, creating access, building community, developing student agency, and giving young musicians the opportunity to see themselves as artists. The art is bigger than the classroom. And the music is happening everywhere. 🎧 The Orchestra Teacher Podcasthttps://orchestrateacher.net #MusicEducation #OrchestraTeacher #RachelJayson #StringEducation #MusicEducator #OrchestraEducation #StringOrchestra #MusicTeacher — SPONSORS AND REFERRAL LINKS — Looking to plan a great orchestra trip? Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning performance travel beyond expectations for more than 30 years. https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com Want to find some classic repertoire or looking for something different and new? Check out Keiser Productions! https://www.keiserproductions.com Looking for things on Amazon? Use my referral link: https://amzn.to/3RkfRLk Do you keep a monthly budget? If not, try You Need a Budget! It’s a great app/website that helps keep your finances on track. https://tinyurl.com/TheOrchestraTeacherYNAB Do you have cable? Cut the cord and check out YouTube TV! It works on mobile, Smart TVs, the web and more! https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r22irzcuy7jshi Resources and more information at www.orchestrateacher.net
