معرفی
Rodrigo Villanueva-Conroy is a Professor of Jazz Studies at the School of Music, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Northern Illinois University. He teaches jazz drum set, jazz arranging, and directs the NIU Jazz Ensemble. Additionally, he is faculty at the Birch Creek Percussion and Steel Pan Summer Program and was a Fulbright Scholar in Brazil for the 2020-2021 academic year.
His educational background includes a Master of Music from the University of North Texas.
Professor Villanueva-Conroy's research and performance interests center on Jazz Studies, Percussion Performance (specializing in drum set), Jazz Arranging, and World Music with a focus on Afro-Brazilian rhythms and Latin Music. His Fulbright project in Brazil, "Cracking the Afro-Brazilian Rhythmic Code," aimed to generate new literature for solo drum set and foster exchange programs between NIU and Brazilian jazz programs.
He has received notable recognition including:
- Fulbright Scholar Program award (2020-2021)
- Endorsements from major music brands: Sabian Cymbals, Yamaha Drums, Evans Drumheads, Vic Firth, and Latin Percussion
As an advisor, Professor Villanueva-Conroy follows a teaching philosophy inspired by G.B. Shaw: encouraging students to study jazz drums musically with a strong grasp of styles from the African Diaspora. He focuses on developing rhythmic feel, sound, and improvisation skills. His Fulbright grant supported international collaboration, and he has active performance projects including his record label, Jazzling Records, launched in 2010.
He performs frequently with the Eddie Gomez Trio, the Alex Mercado Trio, the NIU jazz faculty group Nucleus, and the Anders Svanoe Trio, as well as his own jazz trio.
