Rachel Drury

Dr. Rachel Drury is a Lecturer in Learning and Teaching in the Performing Arts at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) and Co-Programme Lead for the MA Psychology in the Arts (Music). She also supervises PhD students focusing on music psychology, early years development, and community arts. Her work bridges research, creative practice, and healthcare advocacy.

Education: PhD (University of St Andrews, 2012), MMus and BA (Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama), and FHEA (Higher Education Academy).

Research focuses on music psychology, therapeutic songwriting, and arts in palliative care. Notable projects include BabyO and SensoryO—groundbreaking operas for infants—which have toured internationally. She is Music Specialist at Rachel House Children’s Hospice (CHAS) and advocates for arts access in marginalized communities.

Honors include the 2021 Collaborative Doctoral Award from the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities. She leads initiatives like Scotland's Singing for Health Network and contributes to journals such as Approaches: International Journal of Music Therapy.