Home schooled by talented parents, he spoke three languages, read English, and played piano and violin.
[2] By the time his family returned to the United States, when he was 12, Rachlin had earned a reputation as a virtuoso performer and was offered many concert engagements.
Godowsky was present at the Carnegie Hall recital and wrote to Josef Hofmann at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, recommending Rachlin as a student.
Returning to the US with his concert career in full flourish, Rachlin joined the Curtis Institute as the youngest person on the faculty at the time.
On the recommendation of George Szell, he was appointed conductor of the Philadelphia Opera Company, but not before giving a command farewell performance as a pianist at the White House for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor.