A native of Chile, South America, Rodolfo Fernandez graduated from the University of Santiago with a Masters in Music Performance. He was the winner of the National Student Competition in music performance and was awarded a position with Orquesta Filarmonica de Chile. In 1961 he was the recipient of an international grant for Young Performing Artists from the Rockefeller Foundation, and was subsequently appointed assistant principal cellist with the Atlanta Symphony, principal cellist Ft. Lauderdale Symphony, Miami Opera Company, Louisiana Symphony, and the Tampa Philharmonic.

While teaching in the music department of Tampa, South Florida, Sr. Fernandez twice received a Ford Foundation Grant to participate in the American Orchestra National Competition, and was selected as principal cellist of the Daytona Beach Music Festival.

Rodolfo was also sponsored by the London Symphonic Orchestra. At which time he attended master classes and performed with Sir Nelson Cooke, Andre Previn, Richard Burdin and, Simon Goldberg.