About this Artist

Venezuelan violinist and music educator Ira Rodríguez started in the National System of Youth and Children Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela at the age of seven in Nueva Esparta with Eddy Marcano, Argimira Oliveros, and Alberto Valderrama Patiño. She took part in the Symphony Orchestra Children and Youth of Nueva Esparta. Later, at the age of 11, she moved to Caracas to continue her musical studies at the Simón Bolívar Conservatory of Music and at the Academy Latin American, studying violin with Maestro Sergio Celis and taking part in the String Orchestra Young Arches from Venezuela and the Miranda State Symphony Orchestra. In 1998, she graduated cum laude from the UNEARTE University with a Bachelor in Music degree in Music Education, and in 2005, she graduated summa cum laude from the Universidad Católica “Andrés Bello” with a Master’s degree in Education focusing on processes of learning. In 2017, she graduated from the Universidad de los Andes as a Postgraduate Specialist in Music Therapy. She has participated in multiple courses, meetings, and conferences in education and music, both within and outside Venezuela. She has participated in courses, master classes, and seminars with outstanding national and international teachers such as José Francisco del Castillo, Roberto Valdez, Pablo Vasquez, Gerónimo Istúriz, Markus Daünert, Margareth Pardee, Francisco Caban, Claudio González, and Luis Miguel González, as well as in chamber music with the Ríos Quartet Reyna, among others. With 22 years of experience as a Trainer in El Sistema, she has worked as a Professor of Violin for the Simón Bolívar Conservatory of Music, Workshop and Sectionalist of Children’s Orchestras, Youth and Regional, Professor of Musical Initiation in the Special Education Program, Professor of the New Members Program, Professor of the Academic Training Program and as Coordinator of Academic Management. She extended her work as a teacher for university students, as Professor of UNEARTE, Guest Professor of the Postgraduate in Music Therapy of the ULA, and as Advisor of graduate works of the Graduate in Education of the UCAB. She currently works as Manager of the Special Education Program of El Sistema.