About

Raquel Rodriquez is the Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky. At NKU, Raquel is the Coordinator of Brass Studies, teaches applied trumpet, plays 1st trumpet in the NKU Faculty Brass Quintet, and is the director of the Trumpet Ensemble, Brass Choir, and Concert Band.

Raquel is a versatile musician having appeared as a clinician, soloist, and chamber musician throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and China. Raquel freelances frequently with many regional orchestras in Kentucky and Ohio and is a performing member with the Lexington Brass Band and Star United Mini-Corps (IN). Other performing credits include the Sunflower Music Festival Orchestra, Aspen Festival Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, Fountain City Brass Band, Athena Brass Band, Brass Theater with the Canadian Brass, and the Tony Award winning show, Blast!. She was a performing member of the internationally known Synergy Brass Quintet in their 2008-09 national tour and performed in over 200 concerts and clinics across the nation. Raquel is an Artist/Clinician for the Conn-Selmer Company and Denis Wick mouthpieces, mutes, and accessories.

Dr. Rodriquez is the co-editor of the IWBC (International Women’s Brass Conference) Newsletter, on the Board of Directors for NABBA (North American Brass Band Association), and the editor for the Trumpet Technology column in the ITG Journal and Video Editor for the ITG (International Trumpet Guild) website. Her articles have been published in the Instrumentalist Magazine and ITG Journal. Dr. Rodriquez is a Recipient of a 2012 Faculty Project Grant at NKU and is preparing to record her debut CD of cornet music in 2013 (summer). Most recently, Dr. Rodriquez presented  a cornet lecture recital at the 2012 ITG Conference in Columbus (GA), performed with the Athena Brass Band at the 2012 IWBC Conference and Gettysburg Music Festival (PA), and was the cornet soloist with the Frank Simon Band (Cincinnati, OH) in their 2012 Summer Series.

Raquel has been praised for her performances on trumpet and cornet. She has been a trumpet/cornet prize winner at NABBA (North American Brass Band Association), the US Open Brass Band Championships, the National Trumpet Competition, and the International Women’s Brass Conference.

The Brass Band Bridge said of her, “…I was very impressed, as was the audience, with her great sound, easy approach to the instrument and the confident presentation of a technically demanding work. Rachel showcased her complete control of the instrument ...”

“a bravura performance…a female Herbert L. Clarke… played with aplomb…excellent playing” 4barsrest.com. – The Brass In Concert Championships (Gateshead, England) November 15, 2009.

“Rodriquez’s cornet sound was velvety and florid as she easily navigated the extreme technical challenges presented in these pieces. She displayed a rare blend of virtuosic technique and fine musicality throughout.” – ITG Journal (2012) Columbus, GA.

Dr. Rodriquez received her BM and MA degrees from West Texas A&M University and DMA degree in trumpet performance at the University of North Texas. Her former teachers include Dave Ritter, John Holt, and Keith Johnson.

Brass in Concert 2009

2009 Scottish Open Brass Band Championship trophy

Star of Indiana Alumni Corps, 2010