Ronald Rodriguez is an internationally acclaimed classical and jazz pianist, recently appointed as Assistant Professor of Piano at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. A native of Cartagena, Colombia, he started playing the piano at the age of eight. At the age of eleven, Ronald began performing with local jazz groups in Cartagena and was a member of the Cartagena Caribe Big Band. Currently, he has emerged as a top-choice professional player in the competitive New Orleans and Baton Rouge music scenes, primarily due to his ability to adapt to various musical styles effortlessly. He has gained vast experience by performing in renowned music festivals, such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Music Festival in 2022 and 2025, alongside Alexey Marti. He has also performed with Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, as well as the Delfeayo Marsalis Quintet.

As a classical musician, he has performed with various ensembles, including the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, and has served as a collaborative pianist for other instrumentalists and choirs.
In addition to his performance career, Ronald also dedicated himself to teaching. He served as a teaching assistant at Louisiana State University, where he taught group piano classes and jazz applied lessons. He was a piano instructor at Grace Notes School of Music in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and at the Northwestern State University Music Academy in Natchitoches, LA. His most recent projects include the recording of two albums in New Orleans, including his original compositions and arrangements.
Ronald completed his bachelor’s degree in music performance at Northwestern State University of Louisiana, where he studied with Dr. Francis Yang. He earned his master’s degree in jazz studies and doctorate in piano performance and piano pedagogy at Louisiana State University under the guidance of Dr. Willis Delony. He has performed at festivals, recitals, and taught in countries such as the United States, Colombia, Cuba, and Spain.