Assistant Professor
M.M., University of North Texas
Office: 815-753-3425
E-mail: villanueva@niu.edu
Rodrigo Villanueva is a drummer, composer, and arranger. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree (Magna Cum Laude) and a Master of Music degree in Jazz Performance from the University of North Texas. While attending UNT he was awarded several scholarships and recognitions, including the Charn Uswachoke music scholarship (1997-2001), Good Neighbor Scholarship '00-01, and FONCA Scholarship '98-00. His teachers include Andreas Lüscher, Alvaro López, Armando Zerquera, Chris Adams, Chris Dean, Paul Rennick, and Ed Soph on drums and percussion; and Margarita Vega, Paris Rutherford, and Dan Haerle in jazz theory and arranging.
Rodrigo has played and/or recorded with several jazz, classical, and pop artists from Mexico, South America, the U.S., and Japan; among them are Eugenio Toussaint, Roberto Aymes, Carla White, Sandra Kaye, Stefan Karlsson, Lynn Seaton, Takagoshi Yoshioka, Atril 5, Hiro Morozumi, the Mexico City Philarmonic, Edison Quintana, Carlos Prieto, Meyer Kupfermann, Fareed Haque, Charles McPherson, Eddie Henderson, Alejandro Fernandez, and Lucero.
He has composed and arranged in many styles and for different instrumentations, from percussion solos to big band. Some of his compositions have been published by Walrus Music and Increase Music. As an educator, he has taught several workshops and courses in Mexico, South America and the U.S. In addition he has been featured in many international jazz festivals and conferences as performer, composer and/or clinician, such as in the 33rd IAJE International Conference in 2006, the International Jazz & Blues Festival 2006 in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and the XVII Jazz en Lima, Peru, in 2007.
Mr. Villanueva is a Yamaha, Sabian and Evans artist, and is a member of the Vic Firth Education Team, PAS, IAJE, ASCAP and the Golden Key National Honor Society.