A native of Chile, South America, Rodolfo Fernandez graduated from the University of Santiago with a Masters in Music Performance. He was the winner of the National Student Competition in music performance and was awarded a position with Orquesta Filarmonica de Chile. In 1961 he was the recipient of an international grant for Young Performing Artists from the Rockefeller Foundation, and was subsequently appointed assistant principal cellist with the Atlanta Symphony, principal cellist Ft. Lauderdale Symphony, Miami Opera Company, Louisiana Symphony, and the Tampa Philharmonic.
While teaching in the music department of Tampa, South Florida, Sr. Fernandez twice received a Ford Foundation Grant to participate in the American Orchestra National Competition, and was selected as principal cellist of the Daytona Beach Music Festival.
Rodolfo was also sponsored by the London Symphonic Orchestra. At which time he attended master classes and performed with Sir Nelson Cooke, Andre Previn, Richard Burdin and, Simon Goldberg.
Rodolfo’s professional career as a concert cellist and guest artist include national and international tours with the North Carolina Symphony, Louisiana Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, Bógota, and the Swiss Chamber Orchestra. His national debut as a concert cellist was held in Carnegie Recital Hall, New York, June 1972.
Sr. Fernandez is the founding member and leader of the Nevada String Quartet which presented a full season of classical music annually from 1975-1982. He later formed the Serenata Violancello Trio which toured statewide under the sponsorship of the Nevada Humanties Committee in 1983 and 1984.
He was appointed Ambassador of Culture of Las Vegas by Mayor Bill Briar and in 1989, the Nevada String Quartet expanded and changed their name to the Nevada Chamber Symphony. Rodolfo currently maintains the position of Conductor and Music Director.
Sr. Fernandez additionally designed and developed the NCS educational Outreach Programs “Ear-Openers,” and “Night at the Symphony,” interactive multi-discipline music education programs for elementary and high school students. He also designed and developed “Invitation to Play” a youth development program in cooperation with the Southern Nevada Music Teachers Association.
In 1985, as conductor and music director, he founded the Serenata Chamber Orchestra. Rodolfo’s national debut as a conductor was at Moscone Center, San Francisco, June 1986.
