Adjunct Professor Advances on NBC’s "The Voice"

Oct. 1, 2019

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — A “beautiful” and “well-executed” performance of What a Wonderful World, as described by Grammy Award-winning artist Kelly Clarkson, earned Illinois Wesleyan University Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music Melinda Rodriguez a continuing spot on NBC’s The Voice.

Rodriguez, who teaches vocal jazz at Illinois Wesleyan, was selected by both Clarkson and fellow Grammy Award-winner Gwen Stefani, during the show’s “Blind Auditions” on Monday, Sept. 30. Rodriguez chose to join Clarkson’s team.

A Miami, Florida native, Rodriguez lives in Champaign, Illinois and attends graduate school at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign while working two jobs in addition to her teaching role with Illinois Wesleyan’s School of Music.

Earlier this year, Rodriguez was named the winner of the 3rd Annual Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition from a field of 50 registrants, representing 16 states and seven countries from around the world.

The Voice airs on Monday and Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. this fall on NBC.

By John Twork