About Melinda

Born and raised in Miami, Florida, 28-year-old Melinda Rose Rodriguez discovered her passion for music at a remarkably young age. Her early journey began with the vibrant world of pop music, a common starting point for many aspiring musicians. However, her musical exploration took a significant turn during middle school when she was introduced to the classical repertoire. Melinda pursued classical training diligently until the age of 17, mastering the piano and guitar along the way. Yet, despite her technical prowess, she found that neither popular nor classical music truly resonated with her.

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By serendipity, Melinda encountered the captivating sounds of the 1940s and 1950s, leading her to a profound admiration for modern jazz. Influenced by the legendary works of Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane, and Betty Carter, she immersed herself in these genres, shaping her unique artistic voice.

Throughout high school, Melinda distinguished herself through various competitions and music programs. She was honored as a National Young Arts Winner during her junior and senior years. Notably, in 11th grade, she earned third place in Michael Feinstein's High School Vocal Competition held annually in Indianapolis. In her senior year, she received her first Downbeat Student Music Award for Jazz Vocal Solo Performance, and by 2019, she had secured four Downbeat awards.

Upon graduating high school, Melinda was accepted into seven prestigious jazz vocal performance programs and chose the New England Conservatory for her freshman year. However, due to a family crisis, she returned to Miami, where she continued to perform and proudly completed her undergraduate studies in Jazz Voice, Music Education and Jazz Bass at Florida International University under the direction of Dr. Lisanne Lyons.

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Melinda’s musical journey has taken her to international stages, from Bermuda, Japan and Puerto Rico where she has performed at various festivals and collaborated with esteemed artists such as Michael Feinstein, Cyrille Aimee, and Jane Monheit. She has also worked extensively with jazz greats like Kevin Mahogany. Melinda has graced stages at renowned jazz festivals, including the Benny Golson Jazz Festival, the Litchfield Jazz Festival,  The Rochester Jazz Festival and the Miami Downtown Jazz Festival. Currently, she contributes her expertise as a vocal instructor at The Litchfield Jazz Summer Camp, which precedes the festival each year. In early 2019, she won first place in the International Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition held in Washington, D.C., and made her debut with the legendary Count Basie Big Band.

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From 2018 to 2020, Melinda served as a teaching artist at The University of Illinois, Millikin University, and Illinois Wesleyan University while pursuing her Master’s degree in performance. During this period, she performed at iconic venues such as Birdland Jazz Club in New York City and Andy’s Jazz Club in Chicago. She was also awarded the Ben Tucker Jazz Award and the Johnny Mercer Award at the American Traditions Vocal Competition in Savannah, GA. Melinda recently appeared as a contestant on Season 17 of NBC’s "The Voice," where she worked closely with Kelly Clarkson.

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Emerging from the post-COVID landscape, Melinda earned the People’s Choice Award at the 2022 American Traditions Vocal Competition and debuted with The Asheville Symphony Orchestra in April 2022. As of 2023, she has made history as the first ever commercial vocalist of the US Army Blues Big Band in Washington, D.C., a role that has never existed in the band’s 51-year history. She also competed in the 2024 American Traditions Vocal Competition, earning fourth place and the Ben Tucker Jazz Award for best jazz performance. In June 2023, Melinda released her debut album, I'm On My Way, featuring both original compositions and classic repertoire. The album, which premiered in July 2024, has garnered widespread acclaim.