Biography

Uriel Rodríguez Soto is a musician, composer, and orchestra conductor from Mexico City. Due to his numerous concerts from a young age, and with an international career that began when he was just 23 years old, he has become one of the youngest, most passionate, and charismatic conductors of the new generation, who also has a big interest in music education. He is currently the principal conductor of the Rozst Symphony Orchestra; the main professor in the Master Degree Program in Orchestral Conducting at the postgraduate division of the Faculty of Music at the University of Veracruz; professor of Musical Analysis and Orchestral Conducting in the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Production programs at the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez (UACJ); and also the Director of the Rozst Music Academy, which has been sharing its love for music since 2018 and currently has more than 130 students.

 

ACHIEVEMENTS AND CAREER:

 

Uriel began his musical studies at the age of 10 and at 19 began his career as an orchestra conductor. In March 2014, at the age of 23, he received an invitation to attend his first international concert, debuting in London, England, with the London Classical Soloists orchestra. Four months later, he debuted in Graz, Austria, where he also participated in the Kammerphilharmonie Graz 2014 competition, winning an honourable mention for the most outstanding performance of Mozart's Symphony No. 40. As a result, he received an invitation to collaborate as assistant conductor of Maestro Achim Holub (Austrian conducto) in a series of concerts held in London, England, and in the cities of Ossiach and Graz, Austria. In 2017, at the age of 26, he became the principal conductor of the Symphonic Band of the Faculty of Music at the University of Veracruz, and a guest conductor of the Symphony Orchestra. In August 2022, at just 32 years old, he was appointed principal conductor of the Veracruz State Government Symphony Band, signing a 3-year contract after winning first place in a three-phase competition among 12 conductors, becoming the 20th conductor in the Band's history since 1886.

 

In 2021, he was invited to record the album "Sincronías" by the Mexican Composer Axel Retif in Mexico City, conducting a chamber ensemble composed of prominent musicians from the city.

 

In 2020, he received an invitation from the Italian Samnium University to be part of the jury for the international "Samnium Orchestra" competition held at the Musikverein in Vienna.

 

In 2019, he received an invitation from the Opal Sinfonietta Orchestra to conduct a special concert at Hardelot Castle (Château d'Hardelot) in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. That same year, he conducted the Rimini Chamber Orchestra in Italy and the Orpheus Kammerphilharmonie in Vienna, Austria.

 

Since 2019, he has received several invitations as a guest conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez (UACJ), debuting with the university's 46th-anniversary concert at the Paso del Norte Theater, followed by various programs and concerts in subsequent years.

 

Among the orchestras he has conducted are: Orpheus Kammerphilharmonie (Vienna, Austria), London Classical Soloists (London, England), Opal Sinfonietta (Boulogne-sur-Mer, France), Kammerphilharmonie Graz (Austria), and Rimini Chamber Orchestra (Italy). In Mexico he served for three years as principal conductor of the Veracruz State Government Symphony Band and the Youth Symphony Band of the Faculty of Music at the Veracruz University (Xalapa, Mexico), and as a guest conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the Faculty of Music at the Veracruz University (for one semester). He has also been invited to conduct the Xalapa Chamber Orchestra, the Xalapa University Popular Music Orchestra (OUMP), the Orchestra of the Superior Institute of Music (ISMEV), the UACJ Chamber Orchestra (Chihuahua), and the Youth Orchestra of the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez (OSJUACJ).

 

In August 2024, he was invited to be the principal professor of Orchestral Conducting in the Master Degree program at the Veracruz University, and in 2025 he will begin his contract as a professor of Musical Analysis and Orchestral Conducting in the Bachelor of Music and Music Education program at the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez.

 

In 2020, he wrote and published two educational books: the first on orchestral conducting, "Mind, Body, and Soul," and the second, "The Instruments of the Orchestra" Later, in 2021, he presented the first book at the Ciudad Real library in Spain.

 

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND AND KNOWLEDGE:

 

Due to his early interest in composition and orchestral conducting, he began his musical studies at the age of 10, focusing on classical guitar, harmony, theory, and composition. At 18, he entered the Bachelor's program in Classical Guitar and Piano at the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez (UACJ), where he received an academic excellence scholarship every semester due to his high performance. Simultaneously, at the age of 19, Uriel began his studies in Orchestral Conducting with Maestro Carlos García Ruiz, who accepted him as his only student for four years and who would be the fundamental pillar in the development of his career. He later studied in London, England, and in Graz, Austria, with Maestro Achim Holub; and in Vienna, Austria, with Maestro Konstantinos Diminakis. Finally, at the age of 25, he entered the Master's program in Orchestral Conducting at the Faculty of Music of the University of Veracruz, under the tutelage of Maestro Lanfranco Marcelletti. He has also received master classes from Maestro Guido Maria Guida (Italy) and Maestro Christof Harr (Germany).

 

Uriel has a very versatile repertoire, encompassing works from the Baroque to the Contemporary period, as well as operas, ballets, and musicals. He speaks three languages ​​ (Spanish, English, and Italian) and shares his passion for composition, musical analysis, harmony, and music history at universities, also giving lectures and master classes in Orchestral Conducting in different cities every year.

 

Uriel Rodríguez Soto is represented by MUCHIMUSIC