Camp Jam Chicago Director: Rachel Shaftman
Rachel Shaftman began studying piano at the age of five.  She has studied with Larry Novak, Alan Swain, Ed Farran, Myung-Hee Chung, Melody Lord, and Skip Green. Ms. Shaftman holds a B.M. (2000) with a concentration in Jazz Studies, and an M.M. (2003) with a concentration in Jazz Performance, both from DePaul University. Ms. Shaftman has performed at such Chicago venues as the LaSalle Bank (Schubert) Theater, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Park West, House of Blues Chicago, the Signature Lounge, and the Hot House.  She leads a jazz group and also performs as a soloist and freelances with various groups. Rachel enjoys performing various styles of music, from classical piano repertoire to jazz to playing keyboards in rock and cover bands.  She also plays keyboards and sings in the Tony Award winning musical, Jersey Boys.  Rachel has performed as a pianist with Wavelength, a touring comedy troupe, since August 2004. Ms. Shaftman teaches private piano lessons in her home studio.  She was also on the faculty of DePaul University’s Community Music department from 2002-2005, where she taught piano in a program that provided lessons to foster children in Chicago.

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