Rachel Cornacchio is Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Music Education.  She teaches courses in curriculum and instruction in the areas of choral and elementary methods. Dr. Cornacchio also supervises student teachers and serves as Conductor of the Messiah College Women’s Ensemble. As a public school educator, Ms. Cornacchio served as an elementary general music specialist in Peekskill, NY and director of choral activities at Newburgh Free Academy in Newburgh, NY. While in Newburgh, choirs and soloists under Ms. Cornacchio’s direction received top honors at solo and ensemble festivals. Community organizations with which she has worked include the Newburgh Symphonic Chorale and the Oregon Young Women’s Choir. Dr. Cornacchio holds a B.M. in Music Education from Nyack College, the M.M. in Choral Conducting and M.M.E. from Florida State University, and the Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Oregon. Her professional affiliations include the Music Educators National Conference, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, American Choral Directors Association, and Pi Kappa Lambda. Research papers have been presented at the regional, national, and international levels. She is active as a guest conductor and clinician.