Violist Samantha Rodriguez is a native of Mastic Beach, New York. Recently appointed third chair of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Ms. Rodriguez was previously a member of the Rochester Philharmonic. She received her BM, MM and Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, under the tutelage of George Taylor. She has distinguished herself as a soloist with Eastman's Philharmonia, Symphony, and Chorale, as well as with the Lakes Area Music Festival and the Geneseo Symphony Orchestra. Samantha is currently a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and a frequent substitute for the Minnesota Orchestra. She has also served as principal violist for the Colorado College Music Festival, the Lakes Area Music Festival and played with the National Repertory Orchestra, the Skaneateles Festival and the New World Symphony. In 2013, her viola trio came in second place at the M.T.N.A.’s national chamber music competition, and were finalists at the prestigious Coleman Competition. Ms. Rodriguez has had the privilege of teaching wonderful students at S.U.N.Y. Geneseo, the Hochstein School of Music and Dance, and the Eastman School of Music as a teaching assistant. In her free time she loves helping in the kitchen and exploring the outdoors.