Abigail Rodriguez

Biography

Since Abigail was 4 1⁄2 years old (2006), she started playing drum set in church. Her mother had taught her up until Abigail went to middle school where she was taught professionally.

During her summers in middle and high school, she attended a summer music program called Summer Arts Institute (SAI) for three years. In SAI, she was the section leader for three years. Since 2016, she has been a part of the All-City Jazz Ensemble. Towards the end of her second year participating in the ensemble, she got the privilege to be a part of a recording session with Joe Lovano at Power Station at BerkleeNYC. She received an award for her dedication to the All-City Jazz Ensemble. From 2017-2018, she received the opportunity to be a part of the newly created All-City Latin Ensemble. From 7th and 8th grade, she would attend The Salute To Music Program, also known as Borough Wide, and perform at Carnegie Hall at the end of the year. In her last year of middle school, Abigail also had the opportunity to perform in Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops for their Kids on Stage program.

In LaGuardia High School, Abigail was involved in Senior Jazz, Senior Band, Senior Orchestra, New Music, and other various ensembles. She was the section leader for both Senior Band and Senior Orchestra. She played various jazz gigs in different locations such as the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park, Swing 46 Jazz and Supper Club, and many others throughout her three years in that ensemble. During this time, she received two scholarships/awards; The ASCAP Foundation Ira Gershwin Scholarship during her junior year, and the Fred Klein Jazz Award at the end of her high school journey.

During her studies at NYU, Abigail was offered and accepted several gig opportunities in different locations in NYC such as SOB’s (Sound of Brazil), Green Room 42, Brooklyn Bowl, The Bitter End, Heaven Can Wait, The Delancey, Rockwood, Pianos, The Bowery Electric, The Cutting Room, Nublu, etc. After playing in the production of “Amélie” for Tisch New Theatre, she was asked and accepted to work with them again, performing the production of “Spring Awakening”, “Cabaret”, and "Alice By Heart". Abigail has also had an opportunity to play the production of “Cabaret” again with the company KidzTheater. Their most recent work includes a workshop musical called "Hyena in Petticoats". She has also had professional audio recordings of her playing drum set for NYU students at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music made available on all music streaming services. During her time at NYU, she has studied and worked alongside Jonathan Haas, Sean Statser, Javier Diaz, James Saporito, Joshua Samuels, Eriko Daimo, Valerie Naranjo, Kendall Williams, and Joshua Quillen.