Student Spotlight: Emmanuel Rodriguez & Francis Ku

Graduate conducting students Emmanuel Rodriguez (Department of Bands) and Francis Ku (Orchestral Studies) have been selected as conducting fellows for the prestigious Reynolds Conducting Institute at the 2023 Midwest Clinic in Chicago.

Named for esteemed music educator and conductor H. Robert Reynolds, the Reynolds Institute supports the art of conducting by presenting an in-depth symposium for conductors chosen through a highly competitive process. The symposium features chamber repertoire appropriate for the highest levels of personal growth and professional learning.

Emmanuel Rodriguez serves as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, where he directs the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Technical
Fowls Pep Band. Emmanuel is completing his Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) in Wind Conducting from Louisiana State University and previously earned a Master of Arts in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida and a Bachelors of Science in Music from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee, Florida. He was recently awarded the Mike Moss Diversity Grant by the College Band Directors National Association Diversity Committee.

A Hong Kong native, Francis Ku is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Louisiana State University. He holds a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting and a Certificate in Violin Performance from the University of Texas at Arlington. Francis was recognized as a Scholar of the College of Liberal Arts for exceptional academic accomplishment. He embarked on his conducting career after being inspired by Francis Kan, conductor of the Macao Orchestra. He was named Outstanding Academy Conductor by the International Institute for Conductors; the award included a professional engagement with the Bacau Philharmonic in Romania.