Chicago native Rachel Ordaz began studying flute at the age of 10, and in 2001 enrolled at the Merit School of Music where she studied with Elizabeth Ko. Also in 2001, Rachel became a member of the Chicago Youth Orchestras, and remained there until 2007.  In 2011 she graduated with honors from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where she studied with former New York Philharmonic principal flutist, Jeanne Baxtresser. While at Carnegie Mellon, Rachel performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City as the piccolo chair of the Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic. She also became a member of the prestigious Andrew Carnegie Society Scholars. Currently, she is pursuing a Masters of Music in Piccolo Performance at the Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. where she studies with solo piccoloist of the Baltimore Symphony, Laurie Sokoloff. Rachel is incredibly excited to become a new member of the VSO family, and looking forward to starting a new chapter in Norfolk.