Dr. Rothrock has taught music in both public and private schools in North Carolina, as well as in several area churches. She has directed the band at Clemmons Moravian Church since 1989, and in 2011 was named band director at Trinity Moravian Church in Winston-Salem. She also has held adjunct positions in music education at Appalachian State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

In 1984, Dr. Rothrock founded and continues to conduct the Salem Trombone Choir, which has performed throughout the southeast, as well as in Pennsylvania and Germany. She served as the Festival Trombone Choir conductor at the 21st and 23rd Moravian Music Festivals. She and Salem College hosted the 14th North Carolina Trombone Festival in 2011.

Dr. Rothrock’s current research interests are focused on post-Civil War community instrumental music ensembles and their musicians.