Rachel Messing is the Assistant Professor of Oboe and Music History at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and English hornist with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra.

Her other orchestral work in South Texas includes playing with the San Antonio Philharmonic, Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, Valley Symphony, and Laredo Philharmonic. From 2014 through 2019, she was a professional oboist and educator in Arizona. While living in Arizona, Messing performed regularly with the Phoenix Symphony, True Concord Voices and Orchestra, Tucson Symphony, Arizona Philharmonic, Las Cruces Symphony, Prescott Pops Symphony, West Valley Symphony, and Tucson Pops Orchestra. She has also performed with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and Allen (Texas) Philharmonic. In these orchestras, she has had the opportunity to play in the oboe section as principal, second, English horn, oboe d'amore, as well as bass oboe. Her popular music experience includes performances with the bands Hanson, Mannheim Steamroller, and Johnny Mathis.

Messing previously held oboe instructor positions at Grand Canyon University and Mesa Community College. She has also shared her love for music through performances and reed making masterclasses at colleges across the country and sells her reeds nationwide. As a chamber musician, her performances include several festivals and conferences like the International Double Reed Society Conference, RioWinds in Brazil, International Clarinet Association’s ClarinetFest, National Flute Association Convention, Texas Music Educators Association Convention, and National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors Conference.

Messing completed her doctorate at Arizona State University with Professor Martin Schuring, holds a Master of Music degree from Southern Methodist University under the study of Erin Hannigan and received her Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory, where she studied with Alex Klein and Robert Walters.  When she is not practicing or making reeds, she directs her artistic prowess towards baking.