Rachel Dorfman started her study of the violin at age 5. Her major teachers include Vera McCoy Sulentic, Sharron Smith, and Kathryn Lucktenberg. In 2001, Rachel graduated from the University of Oregon with a BA in violin performance. After spending a year freelancing with the Eugene Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Mozart Players, and OSU-Corvallis Symphony; Rachel won her job with the Spokane Symphony in the fall of 2002. In the spring of 2013, Rachel retired from the Spokane Symphony in order to spend the majority of her evenings home with her daughter.
Rachel happily resides on the South Hill of Spokane with her husband, Spokane Symphony Principal Violist Nick Carper, and her beautiful daughter who was born in June of 2012. When not practicing, teaching, or performing; Rachel also likes to read, cook, quilt, and play with her two cats, Jack and Mario.