Photo by Elizabeth Leitzell
Carla Maria Rodrigues, viola
Carla Maria Rodrigues has established herself as a versatile musician and educator. Currently Principal Viola of the San Francisco Opera, she was born in London to Irish/Portuguese parents. Her early studies began on the violin with her mother before entering the Yehudi Menuhin School where she studied both violin and viola with Robert Masters, Hans Keller and Sir Yehudi Menuhin. Ms. Rodrigues continued her studies at the University of Michigan and upon graduating began her professional career as a member of the Minnesota Orchestra. During her tenure with the Minnesota Orchestra, she was a featured soloist in Strauss’ Don Quixote with Yo-Yo Ma and David Zinman, and maintained an active career as a chamber musician performing throughout the world with such artists as Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Rudolf Serkin, Daniel Hope, and Steven Isserlis. Touring extensively in Europe, South America, Israel, and Australia as a member of the Zukerman and Friends Ensemble, she has also participated in numerous music festivals including Marlboro, Santa Fe, Gstaad, IMS Prussia Cove, Dolomiti, Brixen Classics, and Mecklenburg. A passionate educator, Ms. Rodrigues has been a regular guest teacher at the Jerusalem Music Centre, Mehli Mehta Music Foundation in Mumbai, and from 2016 to 2018 was Adjunct Professor of Viola at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. She continues her collaboration with Klanglabor@EUphony, an educational project based in Europe to work with and mentor young artists as they embark on professional careers. Future engagements include guest faculty at the Tanglewood Music Center and the National Youth Orchestra of the USA.