Santiago Rodriguez (USA, Chair)

Santiago Rodriguez, called "a phenomenal pianist" (the New York Times) and "among the finest pianists in the world" (the Baltimore Sun), performs internationally with leading orchestras, including the Chicago, St. Louis, Houston, London and Tokyo Symphony Orchestras. He has appeared in recital at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher and Alice Tully Halls, the Kennedy Center, Leipzig's Gewandhaus and Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. Mr. Rodriguez's extensive catalog of recordings from Bach to Stravinsky has been acclaimed for ". . . blazing conviction, tremendous technical strength, unswerving concentration, and galvanic excitement" (American Record Guide). One of the foremost interpreters of the music of Sergei Rachmaninov, Mr. Rodriguez is currently recording The Rachmaninov Edition, which, when completed, will encompass the entire catalog of Rachmaninov's solo piano compositions.

Santiago Rodriguez was born in Cuba and began his piano studies at age four. After Castro seized power, his parents sent Mr. Rodriguez and his younger brother to America under the care of the Catholic Charities. He spent the next six years in an orphanage in New Orleans. Fortunately, his mother had concealed money along with a note begging the nuns to continue his musical education. Two years after his arrival, he made his concert debut at age 10 performing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 27 with the New Orleans Philharmonic. His international career was launched in 1981 when he won the Silver Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Mr. Rodriguez's unique life and artistry were profiled on CBS's "Sunday Morning with Charles Kurault" in 1993. He has also been featured numerous times on the ABC, NBC, PBS, CNN and ABC television networks.

Santiago Rodriguez holds a masters degree from the Juilliard School, where he studied on full scholarship as a pupil of Adele Marcus, and he completed his undergraduate studies magna cum laude with William Race at the University of Texas. Mr. Rodriguez is a Professor of Music and Artist-in-Residence at the University of Maryland, College Park.

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