Teaching Area(s)
Piano
Education
Certificate DePaul University
MM Southern Illinois University
Certificate São Paulo Municipal Conservatory
BM São Paulo State University
Alessandra Odazaki Rodriguez is a pianist and a piano teacher from Brazil. She holds a BA in Piano Performance from São Paulo State University where she studied with Dr. Claudio Richerme, a pupil of Guiomar Novaves. She also received a certificate degree from São Paulo Municipal Conservatory - a free conservatory program offered by the city - where she studied for 11 years with Dr. Scheilla Glaser. During her undergrad, Alessandra received a scholarship from the Ministry of Education called PET (Programa de Ensino Tutorial) to participate in the research on composition for piano and flute of the Brazilian composer Edmundo Villani-Côrtes. She moved to the United States to pursue a Masters degree with a full scholarship at Southern Illinois University. There, she was a winner of concerto competition and performed Piano Concerto N. 20, K. 466 by Mozart with Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra. Currently, Alessandra lives in Chicago where she received a Performance Certificate degree in Piano Performance at DePaul University. At this same university, she had the opportunity to be coached by Professor Jason Moy on harpsichord, performing a Concerto for Two Harpsichords in C Major, BWV 1061 by J. S. Bach with him and DePaul Baroque Ensemble. Ms. Odazaki Rodriguez is an active member of the Music National Teacher Association and of the Chicago Area Music Teacher Association. In this same organization, she is the co-chair of AIM (Achievement in Music) Theory Exam and serves as a board member. A passionate teacher, Alessandra has been teaching piano for more than 14 years. She serves as a piano faculty member at Merit School of Music. Her students have won prizes at local competitions and were admitted into music programs in Brazil and United States. Besides her musical activities, Alessandra is also a volunteer advocate at the Young Center. This is an institution that advocates for unaccompanied immigrant children.