About Rachel
Background
Rachel Mecham Goates was raised in Idaho in a musical family and began performing early, singing barbershop with her siblings by age 7. At age 9, she took on her first musical theatre role, and by 13, she composed her first piece of music. Actively involved in music and theatre through junior high and high school, she later majored in musical theatre and worked as a professional actress. While raising her young children, she shifted her focus to composing, teaching theatre, and acting in and directing community productions. Her lifelong passion for music and theatre continues to drive her career and creative contributions.
Composer, Arranger, and orchestrator
Rachel Mecham Goates is a published composer and arranger specializing in sacred music, particularly within the Latter-day Saint (LDS) tradition. Rachel has been commissioned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to arrange and orchestrate for events including live performances and worldwide broadcasts, and her works have been featured in LDS publications. She has also written professionally for musical theatre, including for a large-scale outdoor pageant.
Songwriter
As a passionate and intuitive songwriter, Rachel thrives on teaching and inspiring others as they refine their craft. She has been mentored by prolific songwriter Tyler Castleton and studied under Pat Pattison of Berklee College of Music, earning awards for her original compositions. Her songs have been performed internationally, showcasing her broad appeal and creative reach. Among her careeer highlights is writing One in Charity, the theme song for the 2016 BYU Women’s Conference—an opportunity that remains a meaningful expression of her artistic voice and her faith.
Musical Theatre
Rachel Mecham Goates studied Musical Theatre at Ricks College (BYU-Idaho), where she served on the theatre council, assistant directed under Robert Nelson, and received Best Supporting Actress and Best Character Actress awards. She went on to perform professionally at Sundance Theatre and later served as the Juab Fine Arts Council Theatre Chair, organizing workshops and contributing to the annual Art in the Park event. She founded Spotlight Productions Youth Theatre, where her original plays and musicals were produced. Rachel has played roles such as Maria in The Sound of Music and Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, and composed musicals including One Life and We Love Our Nell. With experience in acting, directing, and writing, she is frequently invited to critique and consult on musicals written by other composers and playwrights, offering insights on story structure, musicality, and character development.
Producer, Director, Tour Coordinator
Rachel Mecham Goates served as project manager for Come Dream With Me, a classical album that reached the Billboard Top 25. She coordinated the Beyond 5: All Around the World tour across seven Asian countries and produced music videos for J209 and BYU Vocal Point with Refuge Media Group. Her expertise includes managing professional studio recording sessions as an independent contractor. Additionally, she has held volunteer roles as producer, music director, and associate director for large-scale community productions.
Awards
Throughout her career, Rachel Mecham Goates has earned numerous accolades, including Awards of Distinction and Merit from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Music and Cultural Arts Division, the LDS Music Industry Songwriting Competition, Utah Composers Guild, YourLDSMusicStore.com Composition Contest, Mormon Arts Festival, and Ricks College Academy Players. For a full list of awards and recognitions, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-goates/details/honors/