Department of Music Faculty and Staff

Jose Rodriguez is a clarinetist and music educator based in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He serves as an adjunct music instructor at Western Kentucky University, where he teaches private clarinet lessons. He also serves as a clarinetist and woodwind technician for the Christian County High School Band and provides private lessons, chamber coaching, and sectional instruction for middle and high school students throughout the region.

Mr. Rodriguez holds a Master of Music in Performance from Ohio University and Bachelor’s degrees in Music Performance and Spanish from Western Kentucky University. His primary teachers include John Cipolla (Western Kentucky University), Rebecca Rischin (Ohio University), and Spencer Prewitt (Austin Peay State University). He previously served as adjunct faculty at Western Kentucky University, teaching chamber music, and currently serves as an adjunct instructor at Murray State University’s Hopkinsville campus, where he teaches Music Appreciation and Spanish.

As a music educator, Mr. Rodriguez is committed to developing both the musical and personal growth of his students through a supportive, inclusive, and student-centered approach. His students have earned positions in the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) Concert and Symphonic Bands. A former special education teacher, he brings an emphasis on accessibility, individualized instruction, and inclusive teaching practices to his work with students.

As a performer, Mr. Rodriguez remains active with regional wind and community ensembles, including the WKU Community Band, Pennyrile Area Community Band (PACB), and Cumberland Winds. He was featured as a guest soloist with the Pennyrile Area Community Band in December 2024 and appeared as a guest soloist with the Christian County High School Symphonic Band during the 2026 KMEA Conference.

In addition to his work in music, Mr. Rodriguez is a licensed real estate agent in Kentucky and Tennessee and is a member of Toastmasters International, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and the International Clarinet Association.