Ann Rachlin

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Ann Rachlin MBE, founder of Fun With Music, is a pioneer of music appreciation for children in the UK. Her work came to public prominence in 1987 when Prince William joined her class. A year later, Prince Harry joined him in the class. She has taught the children or grandchildren of other celebrities, including Yehudi Menuhin's grandson, Judi Dench's daughter, Spike Milligan's daughter, Julian Lloyd Webber's son.[1]

Born in Leeds, England in 1933, she is the widow of the American conductor/pianist Ezra Rachlin who died in 1995. She has two daughters and one son, children of her first marriage to Neville Ziff (divorced) and five grandchildren. Children Jan Ziff, journalist and broadcaster, Trisha Ziff, curator and photographer, Max Ziff

In 1985 Ann became a recording artist for EMI and now produces her own CDs on the Fun with Music Limited label under licence from EMI These include stories of the Russian ballets, Lives of the Great Composers, Musical Adventures and are available at leading record shops, by mail order and online at www.funwithmusic.com A successful writer, Ann's ten "Famous Children" books are best sellers in the USA and are translated into 17 languages, including Indonesian, Finnish, Czech and two Chinese versions.

Following an enquiry from The Princess of Wales, Prince William joined the Juniors and was followed a year later by Prince Harry who entered the Toddlers. They remained with Ann for four years until they went to boarding school. Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Dame Judi Dench, Jane Asher, Edward Fox and Joanna David, Barry Humphries, Bob Hoskins, Sir Clement Freud, Spike Milligan and Peter O'Toole also number among other celebrities who have sent their children to Fun with Music.

When Ezra died in 1995, Ann was determined to continue her work, with the invaluable help of Iain Kerr who has worked with her for more than 25 years. She was the subject of "This Is Your Life" in 1996 when Lord Menuhin, Sir Georg Solti and Lord Runcie as well as many of her former pupils greeted her and paid tribute to her life's work with children and music. As Founder of The Beethoven Fund for Deaf Children, Ann Rachlin was awarded the M.B.E. by the Queen in 1986 for her services to deaf children.

Ann now lives near Rye in East Sussex where she is still active in theatrical and musical circles. She is a speaker around the UK presenting Bells on her Toes, the audio-visual story of her life.

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