Erica Snowden-Rodriguez will be the guest speaker at a special luncheon on November 13 at 11:30 a.m.

Erica, the principal cellist of the Akron Symphony Orchestra, will present a talk entitled Music without Barriers that reflects on their involvement with the Sphinx Organization, a national organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts. They will also explore how their experience as a queer Latinx-American womxn has shaped their life and vision of the future of classical music to include, involve and empower communities on the margins of society.

Since moving to Ohio in 2005, Erica has led a very active career as a performer and teaching artist in the region of Northeast Ohio. In addition to the Akron Symphony Orchestra, they is principal cellist of the Erie Philharmonic, and former principal cellist of the Canton Symphony. They performs in a variety of chamber music and recital settings within the community and abroad.

Erica has toured nationally with Sphinx Virtuosi, a chamber orchestra comprised of the nations’ top Latinx and African-American string players, and has appeared as a performer and lecturer at many of Cleveland’s cultural and medical centers, including the Cleveland Museum of Art, Mixon Hall, the Cleveland Clinic, Drinko Hall, 78th Street Studios, and Severance Hall.

In addition to an active performance career, Erica is a passionate music educator, having served on the faculty at The University of Akron School of Music from 2013-14 and at the Cleveland State University Department of Music from 2014-16. Erica currently teaches private lessons from home to students of all ages.

The luncheon, which is presented by the Akron Symphony Guild and open to the public, will be held at Blu Jazz, located at 47 East Market Street in Akron. Tickets are $30 per person and reservations must be received by November 5.

Please call the Akron Symphony Office at 330.535.8131 for more information.