symphony spotlight
Meet Noah Rodriguez
conroe symphony Percussion
From Rock Band to the Real thing
Meet Noah Rodriguez, Percussionist in his second season with the CSO.
Some musicians start with a violin at age five. Noah Rodriguez started with a plastic controller and a video game.
“Funny enough, playing Rock Band made me really enjoy the idea of drumming,” Noah says. “It was a contributing factor in my joining my school’s band program.”
That spark grew into something real. Today, Noah plays percussion with the Conroe Symphony Orchestra. When he’s not on stage, he’s a restaurant server and a contracted percussion educator, passing the rhythm on to the next generation.
Ask him what he loves most about playing with the CSO, and it’s the range. “The diversity of pieces we play and the themes,” he says.
His favorite memory so far? A perfectly-timed bit of percussion magic: “Using the pop gun for ‘Be Our Guest’ in Beauty and the Beast.”
Noah credits mentor Lamar Burkhalter with showing him what was possible. “He helped me see the amazing ends of what I could become as a musician, and goals I can set for myself and achieve.”
And his advice for anyone thinking about picking up an instrument is something the whole orchestra could frame on the wall:
“It takes time and patience — with not only yourself, but those around you. Music is always best enjoyed with others, and being kind to yourself and others makes that process so much easier and rewarding.”
-Noah Rodriguez
He Can Not Live Without?
Sweets
Noah Rodriguez Showing Off His Skills At Swing Swing Swing!
Come Hear Noah For Yourself
“The musicians in the orchestra must have music in their hearts to make such a sacrifice to come to rehearsals after their day jobs. They just have music-making as part of their lives.”
— Gary Liebst, Music Director
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