Acclaimed by the Washington Post as a “virtuoso…. powerful …masterful… pianist…as compelling to watch as he is to hear…”, Carlos César Rodríguez is a musician of great brilliance and versatility. He has gained recognition as a virtuoso pianist who not only generates excitement in the Hispanic and Spanish repertoire but also displays an extraordinary flair for Mozart, the Romantics and the Avant-garde scores. He has recorded for Omicron and Brioso labels and has won the highest critical acclaim for his CD of Spanish music, España en el corazón, distributed by Brioso Recordings. At home on early instruments as well, he has enjoyed entrée to the Smithsonian Institution’s rare collection, Mr. Rodríguez was chosen by the Smithsonian to perform during the 300th year celebration of the Piano by the museum. He was also invited to participate in the 150th anniversary celebration of the Smithsonian Institution. Mr. Rodríguez has won acclaim as music director of Mozart operas and Zarzuelas (Spanish operas), and as a composer, arranger, and improviser of ballets, Spanish dance scores, and Latin-Jazz/Pop compositions.

As concert-pianist Carlos César Rodríguez made his recital debut in his native Venezuela at age 5 and made his orchestral debut as soloist at age 11. Soon after he arrived in the United States to continue his music studies, Mr. Rodríguez was a finalist in the New York Philharmonic Young People’s Competition. At age 21 he made his Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall debut. As concert-artist he has toured Europe and performed concerti and solo recitals throughout the Americas. Venues in which Mr. Rodríguez has performed include the John F. Kennedy Center; the White House; and the Corcoran Gallery, and National Gallery of Arts in Washington, DC; Merkin Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Americas Society, 92nd Y in New York; and the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria.

As chamber music artist Mr. Rodríguez has been guest artist with the Garth Newell Chamber Music Festival and is a frequent guest artist of the National Chamber Ensemble. As collaborative artist he has worked with Denyce Graves, Jessye Norman and Plácido Domingo.

As conductor, Carlos César Rodríguez has performed throughout the Americas. In 2005 he was chosen as award recipient of the prestigious Georg Solti Foundation US fellowship for outstanding young conductors. With the encouragement and collaboration of Maestro Plácido Domingo Mr. Rodríguez became founder and coordinator of the Zarzuela Program (Spanish Operetta) for the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program with Washington National Opera in 2002. In addition he continues to be sought after as music director/conductor of Zarzuela Productions and of Spanish operas in the USA and the Americas.

Mr. Rodríguez earned his Bachelor’s degree with Clifton Matthews (Mr. Rodríguez’ mentor) from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, his Master’s degree from the Juilliard School of Music with Joseph Kalichstein, and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree, conferred summa cum laude, with Thomas Schumacher at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Mr. Rodríguez is the Founding Artistic Director of RÓMEZ3arts (building community and inter-cultural awareness though music to Engage, Enrich and Empower ) that developed inter-cultural exchanges in Cuba and Costa Rica between 2016 and the present. He toured as Pianist in Poland, Italy, NYC, and Montreal, performing the music of Chopin, with The Isadora Duncan International Institute. He continues to be Music Director for WORD Dance Theatre, appeared with them at the Kennedy Center’s REACH in 2020 In MOVE! for the 100th anniversary of Women’s Suffrage and will appear with them again March 10, 2023 on the Intersections Festival in a new Realization of MOVE! He is a member of Levine Music in Washington, DC.