Building confidence for students & directors in the band room
➤ Music Educator
➤ Guest Conductor
➤ Music Education Clinician
➤ Adjudicator
➤ Guest Speaker
➤ Meet and Greet
Who is Mrs. Rachel Allen?
Mrs. Allen is a dedicated music educator in West Virginia. Mrs. Allen earned both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Shepherd University in 2005 and 2010, respectively. Mrs. Allen studied trumpet under Wayne Cameron and conducting under Dr. Mark McCoy. Dr. McCoy still currently serves as Mrs. Allen’s mentor and supporter.
Her concert and jazz bands have received numerous superior ratings at Concert and Regional Jazz Band Festivals during her teaching career. Rachel’s 2026 Jazz Band was selected as the West Virginia State Honor Middle School Jazz Band.
Mrs. Allen’s commitment to the advancement of music education extends beyond the classroom, as she has held various leadership roles and currently serves as the Region 9 WV Bandmaster President. Currently, Mrs. Allen is an active member of the Phi Beta Mu (Tau Chapter) International Band Director Fraternity, where she serves as Secretary.
She has presented music education sessions at Florida Music Educator Conference, West Virginia Music Educator Conference, along with several webinars sponsored by Hal Leonard. Mrs. Allen truly enjoys working with bands and has conducted several honor bands over the years. Another passion is collaborating with and mentoring the next generation of band directors.
During the pandemic, Mrs. Allen joined TikTok and began posting band and music content to lift her spirits during the trying time. Over the next two years through today, her social media channels have grown to 650K+ followers and subscribers across various social media platforms. Mrs. Allen enjoys teaching students and connecting with band directors all over the world through social media and music and band events, but her music and band classroom students remain her biggest priority.
Mrs. Allen has been married to Mr. Allen for 15 years. They love traveling and want to see more of the United States after several years of Caribbean cruising during school breaks. She loves hanging out with her two sons, who will both be in her band class for the 2026-27 school year. Milo, the family’s Boston terrier, loves when Mrs. Allen comes home from school every day! Rachel also enjoys her vegetable and flower garden, and has won several blue ribbons at the local county fair!
Mrs. Allen is extremely grateful for the love, support, and connection with all of her followers. If you see her at an event, please make sure to say hello!
Stay Connected!
@mrs.allen.81
Find Mrs. Allen on social media for entertaining posts about life in a middle school band room, helpful band tips, behind-the-scenes moments, and encouragement for band students and directors everywhere.
Mrs. Allen also posts an in-depth blog, “Behind the Baton” on Substack. Be sure to subscribe and don’t miss a post!
Support Mrs. Allen’s Linktree
Mrs. Allen has been a guest on few podcasts about the middle school band director experience. Be sure to give them a listen!
Booking Details
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Invite Mrs. Allen to guest conduct your middle or high school band. She brings energy, expertise, and a genuine passion for every student in the room.
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Mrs. Allen is available to lead clinics, workshops, and keynote presentations for band students, educators, and music education organizations.
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Mrs. Allen is available adjudicate your high school or middle school concert band.
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A meet-and-greet is a great way for students, educators, or community members to connect with Mrs. Allen in a more personal setting — at a festival, conference, or event.
What People Are Saying
“Rachel Allen is an outstanding band director who brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion to everything she does. She has a fun and engaging personality, while also being incredibly smart, kind, and approachable. Rachel genuinely cares about helping others succeed and is deeply committed to making the band world a better place for all student musicians through her leadership, encouragement, and dedication.”
“Mrs. Allen has an unrivaled passion for sharing her love of music. On the podium, she leads with an electrifying presence, sparking inspiration in her students. Off the podium she has built a strong community of educators from across the county, encouraging mentorship and camaraderie for directors who may have no one else to talk to in their area.”
“If you were to describe the quintessential American band director, the one who is as insightful and experienced as they are genuinely authentic and motivating, you would be describing Rachel Allen.
In our co-presentation at the 2025 FMEA Professional Development Conference, I witnessed firsthand Rachel’s ability to blend pedagogical precision with a deeply sincere demeanor. Our clinic focused on beginning band techniques and the strategic leveraging of method books, and Rachel’s contributions were masterly.
Throughout our collaboration, Rachel proved to be a rare leader who empowers both her students and her colleagues with equal parts wisdom and heart. Her approach is rooted in years of classroom success, yet she maintains a contagious passion for student growth. She truly wants the best for the next generation of students, and she leads by example in every interaction.
Rachel Allen is the embodiment of the modern music educator: a dedicated, insightful, and incredibly kind collaborator. She is the colleague we all hope to work with and the mentor every student deserves.”