Jose Rocha
Associate Professor of Instruction Violoncello and Director of Orchestral Activities
Recognized as a vibrant cellist and educator, Jose Rocha has enjoyed a diverse musical career that includes collaborations with Ray Charles, Bobby Mcferrin, Ben Folds, Marvin Hamlisch, Johnny Mathis, Ray Price, Glenn Frey, Frank Sinatra Jr., The Knights, and Time for Three, among others. His orchestral experience includes frequent engagements as a substitute cellist with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, South Bend Symphony, West Michigan Symphony, Southwest Florida Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, Savannah Symphony, and the Strauss Symphony of America. Additionally, an active chamber musician, Rocha has performed recitals throughout Europe and Latin America in some of the most notable concert halls such as the Chopin Conservatory, the Schloss Hellbrunn Palace, the Lucerne Concert Hall, the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and Sala Nezahualc贸yotl in Mexico City.
Deeply committed to music education, Rocha has enjoyed a long and fruitful career mentoring young musicians. In addition to serving as a faculty member at Goshen College (Indiana) prior to his appointment at 51社区, Rocha taught for fifteen years in public school programs in Texas and Florida.
Rocha holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Houston, and Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of Florida.