Abel Rodriguez Garcia 

Although Abel does not come from a musical family - his mother was a physics teacher, his father a police officer - there was always music on the streets in his Cuban hometown of Camagüey. 'It is part of daily life there. Cuban music is connected to Afro-Cuban folklore from which almost all modern musical genres have emerged, such as salsa and son. There is a lot of dancing to this music in Cuba, which is why Cubans are often considered exceptional dancers.' 

Abel, however, did not become a dancer but a violinist. At the age of seven, he began playing the violin, his mother's favorite instrument. She motivated him to make music at an early age. That started at the music school in his hometown, later he moved to Havana to study at the Instituto Superior de Artes. 'In 2011, I was invited to do postgraduate studies at Zaragoza in Spain. This was followed by the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía in Madrid and I finished my academic career with Ilona Sie Dhian Ho at The Hague Royal Conservatoire The Hague. The Hague is a very friendly city with a good balance between tranquility and entertainment. It is not too busy and noisy, but it is a lively city with many cultural opportunities. I feel very welcome here and I enjoy this city every day.' 

Since 2019, Abel has been a permanent member of the second violin group of the Residentie Orkest. What does he actually think about it? 'The Residentie Orkest is a very solid orchestra with great musicians and, more importantly, great people. Musicians and staff, from administration to production, are all very professional. The orchestra is a great place to work in and I am very excited to be a part of it.' 

Study Physics
Sports Soccer
Favorite food Black beans potage
Favorite children's book Le petit Prince
Is now reading The Pillars of the Earth
Youth hero David Oistrakh
Wake up for a good friend meet
How often in theater Over 200 times a year
Indispensable mode of transportation Bicycle
Favorite piece of music Shostakovich - Violin Concerto No. 1
Is now listening to Pedrito Martinez Group