Rachel Scott

BM in Vocal Music Performance, 2005 + MS in Library & Information Science at Illinois, 2007

Academic Year 2003 - 2004 in Vienna 

I was motivated to study abroad because my voice teacher (Sylvia Stone) had made her career in Germany and demonstrated to me the importance of German-speaking regions in Europe to the history and performance of classical music, as well as the importance of classical music to the German-speaking regions.

Vienna was (and remains) an ideal setting for learning about classical music and its performance. I attended phenomenal performances in a variety of venues and worked with extraordinary musicians. I also had the good fortune (thanks, Dr. Murray!) of working in the music section of the main public library, where I cemented my desire to connect diverse users with musical resources and information.

This experience at the Hauptbücherei has profoundly influenced my professional development. After IiVP, I completed an MS in Library & Information Science at Illinois (2007) and focused my research on the intersections of music bibliography and information literacy. I joined the Belmont University Library faculty in 2007 as a Reference Librarian. In 2012, I joined the University of Memphis Libraries faculty as a Catalog Librarian and in August 2014 I became the Integrated Library Systems Librarian. In 2018, I was tenured, promoted to Associate Professor, and appointed Interim Coordinator for all technical services units.

I continue to nurture my love for the history and performance of classical music. Currently, I am completing my PhD in Historical Musicology and presenting lecture recitals on Clara Schumann as Song Composer.  My dissertation focuses on the songs of Viennese composer Alma Mahler.