Set Rodriguez, violin & viola teacher

Set Rodriguez began his musical studies at the age of 7 in the Royal Conservatory of Canary Islands in Spain with violinist Mariana Abacioaie. At age of 12 he was awarded first prize at the National Young Soloist Competition in Madrid and consequently became concertmaster of the Youth Orchestra of Canary Islands while pursuing his musical studies. In 2000, Set becomes concertmaster of the Symphonic Orchestra of Gran Canaria in Spain where he led four seasons of operas, ballets and symphonic concerts. After getting his masters in Pedagogy of the Strings in 2004, he was accepted in the studio of Jean Jacques Kantorow at the CNSM in Paris. Here, he acquired a rich musical influenced by attending and playing for international renown players such as Boris Belkin, Mariana Sirbu, Mihaela Martin, Kolcha Blacher, and Goncal Comellas.

In 2006, Set Rodriguez settled in USA to study with the Romanian teacher Lenuta Ciulei. During his undergrad studies in violin performance, he performed in Carnegie Hall as first violin of the Rowan String Quartet in 2008. Moreover, he started working with Bay Atlantic Symphony and performing with pianist Tom Fosnocht at the Media Theatre. At this venue, critics such as Neal Zoren have described his playing as “crystal clear; Set Rodriguez is a genius on the violin.” In 2010, he was accepted in the studio of Eduard Schmieder at Temple University in Philadelphia pursuing his masters and professional certificate in violin performance. During these years, he has played at the Kimmel Center in Verizon Hall and Perelman Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York City as concertmaster of the Temple Symphony Orchestra.

Currently, Set is a freelance musician and pedagogue in the Philadelphia area and is a regular performer with the Philadelphia String Quartet, the Elegance String Quartet, and the Media Performing Arts Theatre. Moreover, he is an experienced and active pedagogue in the area. His studies on both European and American continents have led him to use the widest range of pedagogical musical devices for violin and viola: from the most traditional to the most modern methods and musical techniques such as Suzuki, Sassmannhauss, and Applebaum. In addition, his skill to adapt his teaching to any type of learner and his work with parents or family have granted him a success with his students.