Mrs Rachael Urquhart was born and raised in Quakertown, spent all twelve years of grade school here (Strayer student from 2000-2003), and is a 2007 graduate of QCHS. The 2019-2020 school year marked her first as a band director in Quakertown. The 2020-2021 school year will be the ninth year of her career, having had experiences teaching in many diverse areas throughout Southeast and Central Pennsylvania prior to coming to QCSD.

 

Mrs Urquhart has previously taught all levels of band from elementary school up through college. Mrs Urquhart earned her Bachelors of Music in Music Education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 2011 where she studied clarinet with Dr Karen Dannessa. A few years later in 2016, she earned her Masters of Music in Music Performance with a Wind Band Conducting concentration, also from West Chester University, where she learned from Dr Andrew Yozviak. In addition to her role as Band Director at Strayer, she is the Co-Director of the Quakertown Community High School "Panther" Marching Band.

 

Mrs Urquhart plays every band instrument, but her main (and favorite!) instrument is the clarinet. When she's not directing a band, you can probably find Mrs Urquhart training for a race; she is a distance runner who has accomplished two half marathons (and has ambitions for a full!). She loves baseball (go Phils!), the beach, and listening to all kinds of music. Percy Grainger and "Lincolnshire Posy" are her favorite wind band composer and favorite wind band piece of all time. 

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Mrs Urquhart is a resident of Lansdale where she lives with her awesome husband, Matt, who is a videographer by day and also a percussionist; he is the Percussion Co-Caption head of the Kutztown University Marching Unit. Mr and Mrs Urquhart have one "furbaby" - a 4 year old mini Australian Shepherd named Kelby.