Praised for his “smooth acrobatic tone, fierce finesse” and “virtuoso dynamics” (The Millbrook Independent – New York), Mexican- American clarinetist, Elias Rodriguez made his solo debut at the age of 16, after performing on the National Public Radio show, “From the Top.” He has since performed internationally throughout the Americas
and Europe, including a 3-year solo artist residency at La Fondation des États-Unis in Paris, France, which he was awarded by the Harriet Hale Woolley Scholarship. He has served as a guest with the Parisian ensemble, “Calliopée” and received a solo invitation for multiple engagements with the United States Embassy France and the French Embassy in Mexico City, Mexico. Other highlights include concerts on New York’s WQXR as a concerto soloist with The Orchestra Now, with whom he also performed at the Grafenegg Festival in Austria and on the stages of Jazz at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York City, and a national tour with the American wind quintet, WindSync (gold medalists of the international Concert Artists Guild) competition for artist management. Notable collaborations include fiddler and composer Mark O’Connor and violinist Martin Beaver of the Tokyo String Quartet. Elias is a Dallas, Texas native.