Gonzalez, a long-standing member of the Houston Symphony, died of cancer aged 59
Member of the Houston Symphony first violin section since 1990, violinist Rodica Gonzalez died of cancer on 8 February 2026.
Gonzalez was born in Romania and studied at the George Enescu Music School as a child. She gave her first solo performance with orchestra at the age of eleven. As a teenager, she went on to pursue studies at the Ciprian Porumbescu Conservatory in Bucharest under the tutelage of Modest Iftinchi, later winning scholarships to study in Italy and Switzerland.
She became acquainted with Sergiu Luca, a teacher at Houston’s Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. Luca invited Gonzalez to study with him in Houston, and she received her master’s degree at Rice University in 1990.
She joined the Houston Symphony in 1990. Five years later, her sister Mihaela Frusina joined the second violin section, and the two performed side-by-side for nearly 30 years.
As a recitalist and chamber musician, Gonzalez performed in Romania, Italy, Switzerland Canada, Mexico, and the US. She performed as a soloist with the Bucharest and Constanta Philharmonic, Doctors Orchestra of Houston, Galveston Symphony, the Houston Civic Symphony and Houston Chamber Orchestra, where she additionally served as concertmaster.
Gonzalez was a founding member of the Tre Voci Trio and the Fidelis Quartet. Both ensembles performed extensively in Houston and in the US, including appearances at Carnegie Hall. The Fidelis Quartet’s programme of Brahms and Piazzolla at Carnegie Hall in 2011 was released as an album on Delos in 2019 entitled A Tribute to Danny Granados, featuring flutist Judy Dines and clarinetist Danny Granados.
As an educator, Gonzalez taught at Houston Baptist University and served on the faculty of The University of Saint Thomas.
’Known for her warmth, generosity, and grace, Rodica lived a life defined by dedication, service, and a deep love of music,’ wrote the Houston Symphony on social media. ’A passionate musician, she enriched the lives of countless audience members over her many decades with the Houston Symphony.’
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