RACHEL VIDONI
Biography
EARLY YEARS
Rachel Vidoni is a born and raised Adelaide musician and performer.
It all began when she asked for a Tu-Tu for Christmas in 1995.
So at the tender age of 4, naturally, being enrolled in dance lessons followed suit, and unlike many 'toddlers', she stuck to it for many years to come.
We spent the next 8+ years at local dance school 'Premier School of Dance' learning Classical Ballet, Contemporary, and all time favourite, Tap.
Over the years, Dance allowed for many opportunities, and filled our home of costumes, hair pieces, certificates, medals and trophies.
As it comes with territory, song and dance routines slowly started making way into Rachel's private lessons. Her first 'showcase' of having an 'in-tune' and somewhat 'pretty toned' voice emerged when she was learning a song and tap number .
Rachel remises in her diary post "Finding my Voice"
...I remember asking my teacher at the time
(Miss Audrey).. 'do you want me to sing it in my normal voice? or in my good voice?'...
to which she responded - 'uh, good voice?'...
So Rachel did... and the rest is history.
Following this, she was voice trained classically, studying the art and performing at the tender age of just 6 years old.
Within the years to come, Rachel successfully auditioned for many musicals and well as winning many eisteddfods nationally, which gave her the courage to begin performing to large crowds and gaining an insight to live performance.
Career achievements up until this point are:
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Playing lead role in the school musical 'Joseph
and the Technicolour Dream Coat'
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Successfully auditioning as a soloist for 3 consecutive years, for the "Catholic Schools Music Festival' held for 4 nights each year, at the Adelaide Festival Theatre.
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Successfully being chosen to study in Sydney over a two week period for 'Gondwana Voices'
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Winning multiple Vocal and Dance eisteddfods across Australia.
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Auditioning for the role Brigitta von Trapp, for the Australian tour of 'The Sound Of Music' starring Rachael Beck, Rob Guest and Bert Newton.
HIGH SCHOOL YEARS
Rachel attended High School on a Full ‘Performing Arts’ Scholarship, where her love for playing Guitar and Piano developed, along side her singing.
She began guitar lessons at the age of 13, and started to accompany herself at multiple school and out-of school events.
Performing at fairs, community events, weddings and birthday parties, Rachel began to work toward a lifestyle where she considered music & performing as a career.
She had continued her Dance studies, at 'Barbara Jayne Dance Centre' where she completed her exams in Borovansky and Cecchetti Classical Ballet, Modern Jazz, and Tap in Advanced Gold Bar.
Continually competing in Dance competitions, taking out multiple Championships and Aggregates throughout her teen years.
Commitments toward her vocal studies and music started to impact her schedule, so in 2007 after 12 years of Dance study, Rachel regretably hung up her leotard and tights.
Rachel's music and vocal abilities flourished during high school. The school offered many opportunities for her to showcase her talents which included biannual musicals, vocal ensembles, private lessons, and out of school festivals.
Graduating in 2008, Rachel left school with multiple merits in music studies and an almost perfect T.E.R.
Highlights from this period of time are:
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Being involved in the school's Jazz vocal ensemble that performed at her beloved Catholic Schools Music Festival, consecutively throughout her time there.
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Involvement in 'Italcanti' - an Italian vocal group, performing at the local festivals and Carnevale.
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Studying as part of the 'Music Industry Training' program, discovering her love for production and event management.
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Playing the 'White Witch' in the school musical 'Narnia'.
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Playing lead role, Mary MacKillop, for the world debut of 'Mary MacKillop - The Musical' at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
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Receiving merits in Solo Music Performance, Ensemble Music Performance, Musicianship & Music Technology.
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Studying and forming long-term friendships with Patrick Bojanic and Robyn Carroll, spending endless hours in the school Music Department, creating music and setting up equipment and recording studios.
MIDDLE YEARS
After graduating from High School, Rachel was accepted to study Music Performance /Jazz at the The Elder Conservatorium of Music, at the University of Adelaide. However, she decided not to accept the offer and took a full time job working in a print-house doing pre-press graphic design.
This gave Rachel the ability to be creative and establish herself financially so she could pursue a career in the music industry.
She started working briefly with company ‘Entertaining Events’ as a DJ/MC for corporate events which included weddings, work functions and formals, however despite the knowledge she gained from this experience this type of work was not satisfying her performer/singer dreams.
Her first ever time working with an established Adelaide based band, was when she was asked to join the popular party band - Fizzy Pop - as one of their lead vocalists. Throwing herself into her weekly shows with the band, Rachel began to learn how the local industry worked. The band performed at many local events, hotels, as well as many charity events.
Over the period of almost 3 years, Rachel had created a positive profile within the Adelaide music scene, so when the band dissolved she was confident that she would still be able to continue her work as a vocalist and performer.
Within the years to come Rachel was continually asked to play and work with other successful Adelaide bands. Over this time, Rachel worked at many corporate events with bands and was considered as a professional musician and performer.
She played for a period of time with one of Adelaide’s leading party bands, Jungle Jooce, performing huge Christmas seasons at The Grand Glenelg, Sfera’s on the Park, The Palais Hotel and many more, to large rural shows in Millicent and interstate. She also helped out fellow party band Mr Buzzy, playing at many hotel and corporate shows, as well as helping out at their annual spot at the Sea and Vines event, which is considered to be one of Adelaide’s largest food and wine festivals.
Other bands she helped out or supported over the years include: Jooce, Kopycats, Limelight, Jazz It Up, Eleven Days, More P!nk, Shaken Not Stirred, Gate Crashers, Cover’d, The Synchronicity Police, The Red Skull, The Funky Monks and many more, as well as a support for the world class musicians on tour with P!nk (Eva Gardner, Justin Derrico, Mark Schulman, Jason Chapman & Adriana Balic) in their ‘MasterClass’ event at The Governor Hindmarsh.
After doing all this work, Rachel was now buzzing to commit to a band ‘full time’.
In 2015, Rachel was asked to join local band ‘Animal House’ whom played the local hotel scene and she started to enjoy playing music outside of the ‘disco’ or ‘pop’ genre and started to sing more ‘rock’ genrentunes.
After a few years Animal House rebranded to JINX, and with the name change came many more opportunities for the group to play more prestige events. JINX played at The Tour Down Under’s afterparty in Moseley Square in 2017, and due to such a positive crowd response, were invited to play alongside The Potbellez on the Glenelg Beach Front for NYE to over 40,000 people.
In 2017, Rachel was in the original line up of new band, Rocket Queen - Guns N Roses Tribute Show. Here, she played piano and performed the lead vocals of Axl Rose. This is where Rachel discovered her love for this genre and the band had many successful shows around Adelaide.
Throughout these years, Rachel has created many friendships and connections within the Australian music scene. After becoming friends with some of phenomenally successful musicians, Rachel’s urge to pursue something ‘bigger than home’ increased.
CURRENT
Toward the end of 2018, Rachel was contacted by an old friend living in Los Angeles, CA. She was offered an opportunity she could not refuse, and in January 2019, Rachel travelled to the USA in hopes of networking to create a foundation for a life and career in the world’s largest music industry.
Rachel volunteered at a High School, where she vocal trained 60+ female students for their 25th Anniversary ‘Musical Performance’. Along side her friend, Patrick, they both managed and created all production for the 3 night event. The event was enormous, with over $100k worth of production and equipment, Rachel also mixed sound at all performances whilst simultaneously singing background vocals #BDE
Within a few weeks after arriving, Rachel had been invited to play weekly at the Sunset Jam, held at the world famous Viper Room. As well as frequenting other music nights at venue’s like Whisky A Go Go & Lucky Strike in Hollywood.
Here she played with amazing artists such as Gary Garry Beers (Bass - INXS), Chris Reeve (Drums - Tom Morello, Avril Lavigne, Filter +), Pete Thorn (Guitar Chris Cornell, Melissa Etheridge, Don Henley +) and the list continues.
Rachel wrote music for up coming artists, as well as being the Music Director for several shows, in which she also played keys, guitar and sung background vocals in.
She travelled to Las Vegas with 90s band Smash Mouth, where she shadowed Patrick Bojanic (TM + Sound Engineer for Smash Mouth, Uncle Kracker, Dave Stewart + The Eurythmics, Mark McGrath + Sugar Ray - just to name a few). Patrick is a world renowned musician, sound engineer and everything else you could think of - he's done it - and he's nailed it. An absolute legend and living genius whom Rachel love working with and learning from.
Returning to Adelaide for a contract with ‘Massaoke’ - a franchise originating in the UK of a band playing music in a live Karaoke style show - for the Adelaide Fringe 2020 at the Garden of Unearthly Delights. Along side a new formed band consisting of Adelaide locals, played the entire season of the Fringe with sold out crowds throughout the 4 week event. She has continued to remain a part of the Australian version of the franchise, and will continue to work with them for any major events over Australia.
Rachel has been signed under Sparam Entertainment where she will begin her journey as an artist releasing her own music and working toward supports and tours.
Due to COVID-19, Rachel has found herself back in Adelaide, working closely with her projects with That 90s Show, Cocktail Creative's new creation 'Arcadia' which will complete a run at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2022, as well as a new exciting venture with ProShow's in their newly adapted "Alanis -The Morissette Journey" show, and plans for a 2022 Tour is in the making.
The future is looking to be very fruitful and Rachel is grateful with the opportunities she has worked so hard for. She has many shows and events in the making and is looking forward to getting back on the road and on the stage.
She is hoping to move permanently to Los Angeles within the 2-3 years, to further her dreams and career.