Roderick Cox (conductor)

Cox was born in Macon, Georgia. He attended the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University, then graduated from Northwestern University with a master's degree in conducting in 2011. At Northwestern, he studied conducting with Victor Yampolsky and Mallory Thompson.{{Cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/roderick-cox-get-to-know-him/410581255/|title=Roderick Cox: Get to Know Him|date=13 January 2017|work=Star Tribune|access-date=23 January 2017}} He then studied with Robert Spano at the American Academy of Conducting in Aspen, Colorado in 2013–2014. Cox conducted the Northwestern University's various classical ensembles, including the university's symphony orchestra.{{Cite news|url=http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2012/11/alabama_symphony_youth_orchest.html|title=Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra: Roderick Cox in Conducting Debut|last=Heubner|first=Michael|date=15 November 2012|work=AL.com|access-date=24 January 2017}} He was an assistant conductor with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra after graduating from Northwestern University.{{Cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/can-the-minnesota-orchestra-reach-diverse-audiences-this-man-is-the-key/410581275/|title=Can the Minnesota Orchestra Reach Diverse Audiences? This Man is the Key|last=Royce|first=Graydon|date=14 January 2017|work=Star Tribune|access-date=23 January 2017}} He became the music director and principal conductor of the Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra in 2012. He won the Robert J. Harth Conducting Prize in 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://lakesareamusic.org/people/roderick-cox/|title=Roderick Cox|website=Lakes Area Music Festival|access-date=24 January 2017}}

In 2015, Cox began working as assistant conductor in the Minnesota Orchestra, followed by the position of associate conductor in 2016. He debuted his subscription concert series with the orchestra in January 2017. He left the Minnesota Orchestra in 2018, and relocated to Berlin, Germany.{{Cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/trailblazing-conductor-roderick-cox-nails-his-first-big-minnesota-orchestra-concert/411337155/|title=Cox Nails His First Big Minnesota Orchestra Concert|last=Blain|first=Terry|date=21 January 2017|work=Star Tribune|access-date=23 January 2017}} In 2018, Cox was the recipient of the Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award.{{cite news | url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-orchestra-s-roderick-cox-wins-top-prize-for-young-conductors/483589771/ | title=Minnesota Orchestra's Roderick Cox wins top prize for young conductors | work=Minneapolis Star-Tribune | author=Terry Blain | date=2018-05-24 | accessdate=2024-04-26}} He launched the Roderick Cox Music Initiative (RCMI) in 2019, which provides scholarships for young musicians from historically marginalized communities, allowing them to pay for instruments, music lessons and summer camps. Cox and his initiative were featured in the documentary Conducting Life.

In 2021, Cox made his first guest-conducting appearance with the Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier. In April 2024, the Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier announced the appointment of Cox as its next music director, effective September 2024. This appointment marks Cox's first music directorship.{{cite press release | url=https://www.opera-orchestre-montpellier.fr/magazine/roderick-cox-nomme-directeur-musical-de-lopera-orchestre-national-montpellier/ | title=Roderick Cox nommé Directeur musical de l’Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie | publisher=Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie | date=18 April 2024 | access-date=2024-04-26}}{{cite news | url=https://www.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/roderick-cox-nomme-directeur-musical-de-l-opera-orchestre-national-montpellier-6868483 | title=Roderick Cox nommé directeur musical de l'Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier | work=France Musique | author=Louis-Valentin Lopez | date=2024-04-23 | accessdate=2024-04-26}}{{cite news | url=https://www.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/podcasts/au-fil-de-l-actu/le-chef-americain-roderick-cox-nomme-a-montpellier-un-nouveau-souffle-pour-l-orchestre-5013227 | title=Le chef américain Roderick Cox nommé à Montpellier : un nouveau souffle pour l'orchestre ? | work=France Musique | author=Yassine Bouzar | date=2024-04-24 | accessdate=2024-04-26}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{official|https://roderickcox.com}}
• [https://www.harrisonparrott.com/artists/roderick-cox HarrisonParrott agency page on Roderick Cox]
• [http://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/columns/listen_up/strings-to-the-fore-santa-fe-pro-musica-santa-fe/article_3d1aa918-8c11-5ff9-b851-931d2e65076a.html James M. Keller, 'Strings to the Fore: Santa Fe Pro Musica & Santa Fe Symphony Concerts'. Santa Fe New Mexican, 30 September 2016]
• [https://www.interlochen.org/news/meet-conductor-roderick-cox-talks-gospel-music-career-changes-and-his-return-to-interlochen 'Meet the Conductor: Roderick Cox talks gospel music, career changes, and his return to Interlochen'. Interlochen Center for the Arts, 13 July 2022]

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{{succession box | title=Music Director, Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie | before=Michael Schønwandt | years=2024–present | after=incumbent}}

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Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American conductors (music)

Category:Columbus State University alumni

Category:Northwestern University alumni

Category:People from Macon, Georgia

Category:1987 births

Category:American male conductors (music)

Category:21st-century American male musicians

Category:Classical musicians from Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:African-American conductors (music)