From the St. Regis Hotel to the United Nations, Tomas Rodriguez brings his guitar artistry to some of New York’s most sophisticated and elegant events.
Live Guitar for Corporate & Private Events in New York
Bringing a singular and eclectic variety of music, ranging from classical guitar to duets with the West African kora, Tomas turns standard background music into an experience that infuses the energy of the event with unexpected depth and cultural sophistication. While people may not notice this directly, it’s felt in the energy of the room — lightness, joy, and connection.
St. Regis · United Nations · Google · Saks Fifth Avenue
Listen
A short sampler of solo and ensemble work — classical, flamenco, Brazilian, and Latin repertoire.
Solo, Duos, Trios and More
Solo Guitar
The most requested format, and where Tomas is most often booked. Intimate, unobtrusive, and adaptable to any room.
Duo & Trio
Bossa nova, slow Latin boleros, or an evening that builds toward Buena Vista–style Cuban son.
Quartet & Ensembles
Available for select occasions that call for a larger sound, from Brazilian and Latin classics to traditional West African music, drawn from a trusted network of collaborating musicians.
What Tomas Does … and Doesn’t
Most of Tomas's work is for upscale, elegant events that are looking for music to be a sophisticated backdrop, rather than a centerpiece of the evening. This is not to say that the latter doesn't sometimes happen - one client has brought him in to play background music for a small company dinner, but then actually asked him to play a small solo guitar concert as part of the evening after people were enjoying the music so much.
There are occasions (cocktail hours, receptions) in which Tomas will put together a trio to play an hour of bossa nova, slow Latin boleros, and then end the evening with an energetic set of Buena Vista style Cuban son music. Or it could be a quartet playing anything from an instrumental version of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" to Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Meditation."
Tomas organizes dance bands under special circumstances, and these tend to be a departure from the normal wedding or party dance band. The band may be doing anything from Brazilian or Latin classics to traditional West African music. These are custom planned events, often in conjunction with top wedding and event planners, where the client has an eclectic mix of needs and musical preferences. Tomas has organized music for events attended by international dignitaries, high-level New York City officials, as well as leading music business executives.
Not generally a fit for:- Merengue, bachata, or salsa dance-floor sets
- Flamenco tablao (song and dance-focused performance)
(At a client's request, a special performance segment in one of these genres can sometimes be curated. If an event's main need is music to get people moving, there are plenty of specialists in that area — happy to provide a referral.)
The focus is always on finding the right match — what Tomas does best, and what the client needs.
Experience
Since the late 1990s, when he was the featured musician for the Directors Guild of America Gala in Manhattan, Tomas has worked extensively in the special events and hospitality sectors as a solo guitarist and leader of duos, trios, and full bands, for a wide array of private and corporate clients. Highlights include:
- Private members events at MOMA and the Metropolitan Museum of Art
- The wedding of George Soros
- Private parties at the Hamptons home of Howard Schultz of Starbucks
- The opening night gala of the New York Philharmonic, leading a Brazilian ensemble opening for Wynton Marsalis
- A Deutsche Bank dignitaries dinner at the World Bank meeting in Washington, D.C.
Tomas has been a top call for Spanish, Latin, and Brazilian guitar with Hank Lane Music, Craig Scott Entertainment, and other leading entertainment agencies in the New York metro region. He played solo guitar five days a week for Afternoon Tea at the St. Regis Hotel from 2005 to 2010 — where his guitar serenaded many prominent guests including Bruce Springsteen, Yo Yo Ma and members of the Royal Saudi family. Tomas has also held steady brunch engagements at hotels including the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park, The Peninsula, and the InterContinental.
Because of his unique experience and connections in the New York world music scene, Tomas has, on occasion, been asked to curate musical entertainment for events featuring world dignitaries and international business leaders. Tomas was called on to coordinate musical performances for an event on Ellis Island that brought together diplomats and business leaders from around the world, assembling a global cast of prominent musicians from Gambia, Japan, and India, alongside his own Spanish guitar. The musical performances became the focal point of the evening, captivating the guests as if it were a main stage concert.
Most recently, Tomas has gained international praise for his new album of solo guitar compositions, leading to concerts in the New York region and beyond. Tomas was invited to play solo guitar for a private Google event at the Whitney Museum. Playing a mixture of his own compositions and music from Mali, Brazil, and Cuba — hardly standard fare for an event guitarist — his music blended seamlessly with the high-culture, contemporary atmosphere of the Whitney, drawing an enthusiastic response from attendees.
Testimonials
"Thank you so much for providing the exquisite music for our recent dinner at the New York Botanical Garden. Our guests, who were our most prominent advertisers and friends, were all quite complimentary about your talent and as I told you – you made our party. I recommend you highly to everyone."
"There is balance of elegance and passion when Tomas Rodriguez plays. He connects with the guests and fills the room with a rhythm only the most talented artists can achieve."
"Elegant and chic is the only way to describe the effect of your group's musical stylings. They never overpowered the conversation but supported it with an exotic flare that everyone commented on as perfect. Pleasing our editors and event staff, who consider themselves the arbiters of taste, is no simple matter."
"You deserve a big round of applause for assembling such an eclectic mix of musicians. The guests are still talking about it. I just loved the sound and the energy you gave. Tasteful, interesting, unique, beautiful. All I can say is that the music made us happy."
Who Books This
Law & Financial Services
Tomas has led performances for dignitaries’ dinners at World Bank meetings in Washington, D.C., at the invitation of contacts including Deutsche Bank.
Cultural Institutions, Museums & Foundations
Tomas has been featured at fundraising events at some of New York’s leading cultural institutions, including the Whitney Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Consulates & Bi-National Chambers of Commerce
For multiple years, Tomas led an instrumental flamenco trio for the Consulate of Spain’s “Wines of Spain” events, hosted jointly with the Spanish Chamber of Commerce.
Luxury Hospitality (Boutique Hotels & Private Clubs)
Tomas has held standing residencies at the St. Regis Hotel and most recently played exclusive events at the Aman Hotel, among others.
PR, Event-Planning & Hospitality Agencies
A trusted collaborator of leading agencies including Hank Lane Music and Craig Scott Entertainment, among others.
(See Selected Clients below for the full list.)
Selected Clients
FAQs
CORPORATE EVENTS
Can the music be customized to our event or brand?
Yes. Tomas plans the format and repertoire around your room, your occasion, and your musical vision. For an event at Ellis Island, he assembled musicians from Gambia, Japan, and India alongside his own Spanish guitar for guests from around the world.
Do you provide a certificate of insurance and a W-9?
Yes. A certificate of liability insurance is available on request, as is a W-9.
PRIVATE EVENTS
Can you play a wedding cocktail hour or reception? Yes. Tomas plays solo, duo, and trio sets for cocktail hours and receptions. Working with top wedding and event planners, he also organizes custom dance bands that play Brazilian and Latin classics or traditional West African music.
Can you perform at a private home or estate? Yes. Tomas has played private parties at homes in the Hamptons and private members events at museums and clubs, and he adapts easily to living rooms, gardens, and larger estates.
Do you take song requests? Yes. Special requests are best shared at the time of booking, or at least thirty days before the event, so that there is time to prepare an arrangement. Requests calling for substantial new arranging may carry an additional charge.
BOOKING AND LOGISTICS
Which formats are available? Solo guitar, duo, trio, quartet, and specially curated larger ensembles, which draw on a trusted network of collaborating musicians.
How far ahead should we book? Popular dates — particularly weekends between May and October — are often booked several months ahead. Shorter notice is frequently possible, so it is always worth asking.
Do you provide your own sound? For solo, duo, and trio engagements in rooms of small to moderate size, Tomas brings his own amplification. Large-scale events, or events with multiple performance locations requiring separate setups, are better served by a dedicated live sound team. If that is likely for your event, it is worth settling early — it is far easier to build into the plan than to solve within days of the event.
Where do you perform, and do you travel? Tomas is based in New York City and works throughout the metropolitan area — the five boroughs, Westchester, Long Island, northern New Jersey, and southern Connecticut. He plays regularly in the Hamptons and has traveled for engagements in Washington, D.C., as well as destination events in Miami and Hawaii. For engagements beyond the metropolitan area, please reach out.
How is pricing determined? A quote depends on the format, length of the performance, date and time, venue and travel, and any custom arrangements. Share your event details and Tomas will send a recommendation with quotes for a few scenarios.
Do you play dance-floor sets like merengue, bachata, or salsa, or flamenco tablao? Those styles are outside Tomas’s usual focus. If an event’s main need is music to get people dancing, he is happy to refer you to specialists. At a client’s request, he can sometimes curate a special performance segment in flamenco or Buena Vista Social Club style.
What makes Tomas different from a typical event guitarist? Tomas has worked in the special events and hospitality sector since the late 1990s, ranging from being the featured guitarist for Afternoon Tea at the St. Regis Hotel to gala events at the Whitney, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the United Nations. He blends classical, flamenco and Brazilian guitar with other world music styles, including duos with the West African kora. This versatility brings depth and cultural sophistication to the room.
How do I check availability? Share the date, room, occasion, and your musical vision. Tomas will send a recommendation suited to your event and quotes for a few scenarios.
How It Works
Share the date, room, and occasion as well as musical vision. Solo, duo, trio or more? Musical styles and genre?
Receive a recommendation suited to the room and its tone as well as quotes for various scenarios.
Check availability
Send the date and occasion, and you’ll receive a recommendation along with a few quote options.
You’ll hear back within two business days.