Music alumna wins Freelancer of the Year

School of Music alumna, Rachel Mason (BMus 2003), has been named Freelancer of the Year. Rachel is the first musician to have ever won the award.

Rachel is a multi-award winning songwriter, musical director, arranger and vocal coach. Her work includes being a judge on Sky TV’s Sing: Ultimate A Capella and, most recently, establishing Lyrical Light, an award-winning song writing workshop for people struggling with pre and postnatal depression.

The judges commended Rachel on her outstanding work ethic. Rachel currently runs four businesses as well as working in the community, running choirs and working to help young musicians to start their careers.

Upon winning the award, she said she was “humbled and honoured”.

Of winning, Rachel said: “All of the other finalists were all so amazing; I couldn’t believe the judges had chosen me. I love freelancing as it gives me the freedom to choose how I use my time. If inspiration strikes to write a song or plan a new project, I can move my schedule around to be able to follow the creative flow when I feel it.”

She went on to say: “The judges commended me on running my businesses alongside juggling being a married mother of two children (our daughter is two and our son is eight months old). Having my children and suffering from postnatal depression is what inspired me to set up Lyrical Light.”

Rachel has won £5000 for her business, and expert marketing and business mentoring from a multi-billion dollar international company.

Presented by the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed, the Freelancer Awards are an annual event to celebrate the best of the UK’s 4.8 million freelancers and self-employed.