Robert Xavier Rodriguez
Robert Xavier Rodriguez was born on June 28,1946 in San Antonio, Texas. Besides early training in piano and harmony, his musical education included study in composition with Hunter Johnson and Nadia Boulanger. In 1971 he gained international recognition when awarded the Prix de Composition Musicale Prince Pierre de Monaco. Rodriguez's music encompasses all genres and often combines Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque techniques with ethnic and contemporary materials. He has enjoyed considerable success with his operas, the most recent of which is Frida, based on the life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Rodriguez's orchestral music embraces a wide range of styles, from works for large orchestra (Oktoechos) to ballets (Estampie) to music for children (ColorfulSymphony). ; Among Rodriguez's recent compositions are: Flight: The Story of Wilbur and OrvillevWright, premiered by the Dayton Philharmonic in April 2003 to celebrate the centennial of the first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. ; In 1996 the San Antonio Symphony appointed Rodriguez composer-in-residence. He also has served as composer-in-residence with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Dallas Symphony. Conductors who have commissioned Rodriguez include Eduardo Mata, Neville Marriner, and Antal Dorati. In 1998 the National Symphony, under the direction of Sir Raymond Leppard, performed Fanfare for Four Trumpets and Four Conch Shells. ; Rodriguez resides in Dallas, where he is currently Professor of Music and Director of the Musica Nova ensemble at the University of Texas at Dallas. He is also active as a guest lecturer and conductor.