About Lavender Cloud

Rachael Claire Botz began in a family folk band, performing across West Michigan and Chicago. She grew up playing music for kids and families, and this passion carries through in the band’s current work.

Rachael is a multi-instrumentalist, playing mandolin, violin, viola, guitar, ukulele, and singing. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Viola Performance. She started writing songs in high school, received a juried songwriting award for her first folk-gospel project, and then transitioned to writing fun children’s songs when the band started in 2018 with her husband.

After having a child in 2021, Rachael began teaching music at the Old Town School of Folk Music and at Beginnings in Bridgeport. She teaches early childhood music and movement classes and provides private lessons in fiddle, violin, viola, and mandolin at Old Town School and group violin classes at The People’s Music School.

When she’s not performing or teaching, Rachael enjoys swimming, yoga, taking walks outside and making up silly stories and songs with her husband and son.