Rose Ensemble Educational Programs
- Partner Schools
- Grades K-12
- Music from the Land of Three Faiths: Discovering Ancient Harmonies Across Cultures, Borders and Religions
- Celebremos! Musical Collaborations in Colonial Baroque Mexico
- Hawai'i Revealed: Music from the Soul of the Hawaiian Saga
- College Workshops
- Master Classes
- Medieval Music: Harmony of the Spheres
- Ensemble Singing: It's all about blend
- Adult Workshops
- Gregorian Chant: No, you don't have to be a monk!
- Renaissance Music: Beyond merry maids and fa-la-la
- Music Research: Where did you find that music?
- Ensemble Singing Workshop: It's all about blend - Advanced
The Rose Ensemble's Cultural Access Program
The Rose Ensemble’s Cultural Access Program (RECAP) brings free music education programs to over 900 K-12 students at disadvantaged and underserved schools in the Twin Cities.
ST. PAUL
Eastern Heights Elementary
Galtier Magnet Elementary
Achieve Language Academy
Franklin Music Magnet
Longfellow Elementary
MINNEAPOLIS
Jenny Lind Elementary
Emerson Spanish Immersion
Jefferson Elementary
Nellie Stone Johnson
Elementary
South High School
Aquila Primary Center
K-12: Bringing Music and Cultural Programs to Your School
The Rose Ensemble offers fun and imaginative presentations that bring ancient music to life through songs, instruments, and storytelling for grades K-12. Each program provides a window into ancient times and places, tapping into themes directly relevant to the social and cultural issues of today's world. With extensive research and culturally diverse content, Rose Ensemble educational programs have been presented to thousands of young people across the country.
Music
from the Land of Three Faiths:
Discovering Ancient Harmonies Across Cultures, Borders and Religions
Program Description
Listen to music from this program now!
Explore the fascinating music and culture of medieval Spain, where Christians, Jews and Muslims lived together in a shared, artistic society. Demonstrating diversity through music, this inspiring program features a wide variety of songs and highlights Middle Eastern instruments such as the riqq (tambourine), dumbek (drum), and rebec (fiddle).
Educational Standards: Music, World History, Foreign Languages, Geography
"Thank you for teaching us about Medieval music. Your instruments were really cool! Thank you for letting us ask questions and touch the instruments. You are one of our two favorites for the whole year in CONNECT!" --Ms. Winther's 5/6 graders, Highland Park Elementary
For more information about programs, rates and availability, contact Aaron Wulff, Coordinator of Education and Community Outreach, at: 651-225-4340, ext. 4 or aaron@RoseEnsemble.org.
Celebremos!
Musical Collaborations in Colonial Baroque Mexico
Program Description
Listen to music from this program now!
Celebrate the holidays with this fascinating program featuring over two centuries of festive dances and songs from 17th century Mexico. Showcasing classical and folk instruments, Rose Ensemble musicians help students explore collaborations among colonial Spaniards, African slaves and native peoples.
Educational Standards: Music, World History, Foreign Languages, Geography
For more information about programs, rates and availability, contact Aaron Wulff, Coordinator of Education and Community Outreach, at: 651-225-4340, ext. 4 or aaron@RoseEnsemble.org.
Hawai'i Revealed: Music from the Soul of the Hawaiian Saga

Program Description
Listen to music from this program now!
Discover Hawaii's beautiful heritage revealed through its beautiful music! In this important program focusing on American history and Native American culture, students learn about the Hawaiians' struggle to keep alive their rich musical and cultural traditions. By highlighting important time periods in Hawaiian history, Rose Ensemble members demonstrate ancient oli and mele chants and paniolo (cowboy) songs of the migrant ranchers, and teach simple hula movements.
"I just wanted to extend a note of thanks for the spectacular Rose Ensemble performers who visited Linwood- Monroe last Friday. The students were engaged in music, dance, and cultural history of Hawaii. The vocalists were of the the highest echelon in talent and refinement. Congratulations to the Rose Ensemble for past success and a bright future." -Linwood-Monroe Arts Plus School (Monroe Campus)
Educational Standards: Music, Dance, World History, U.S. History, Foreign Languages, Geography
For more information about programs, rates and availability, contact Aaron Wulff, Coordinator of Education and Community Outreach, at: 651-225-4340, ext. 4 or aaron@RoseEnsemble.org.
Benefits of Programming
- Engaging vocal and instrumental demonstrations by professional musicians
- Interactive group discussion and hands-on participation for all ages
- Activities designed for academic standards in music, history, geography, and world languages
- Tailored content for large or small classes and assemblies
- Educator study guides for the classroom
- Minimal setup and production requirements
"Amazing thanks to all of you. My students and I were BLOWN AWAY by your visit. Much discussion followed your departure. VERY IMPRESSED and INSPIRED!" --Steve Deitz, Vocal Music Director, Jefferson Senior High School, Alexandria, Minnesota
College Workshops
The Rose Ensemble's educational presentations address the needs of participants at all levels -professionals and amateurs, soloists and ensemble performers, conductors and music teachers.
This unique approach focuses on each participant's learning experience, fostering individual development, and growth in skill and knowledge. For bigger groups, our master classes tackle broader subjects like medieval history and larger choir singing techniques. For smaller groups, our workshops address specialized topics like Gregorian chant, music research and ensemble singing.
Master Classes
The Rose Ensemble's master classes explore the true joys of singing early music and demonstrate ways to enhance its performance. By focusing on the process of rehearsing and performing early music and the events of the life and times of the people who wrote it, participants learn about the nature of the music from a more human perspective and the elements that contribute to singing it well.
Medieval Music: Harmony of the Spheres
While helping students to uncover the beauty of ancient music, the Rose Ensemble's light-hearted but informative style of presentation uses contemporary themes to describe what it was like for both women and men to live, work, and make music in Medieval times. This program will enable participants to identify and describe significant aspects of medieval music and people, using the life and music of Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) as a guide. Imagine what happens when the entire room begins singing 12th-century melodies!
Ensemble Singing: It's all about blend
Whether you sing in a 200-voice chorus or an a cappella quintet, it's all ensemble singing. Guided by members of The Rose Ensemble, participants sharpen their skills in vocal production, rhythm, intonation, balance, diction, ensemble sensitivity and projection of text. Singers also learn vocal style, performance practice and ensemble techniques that enhance the interpretation of this rich and diverse vocal music repertoire - all taught in a nurturing, supportive way.
This presentation also offers opportunities to sing informally in open reading sessions. Master classes can also be tailored to meet presenters' needs and can include: a rehearsal demonstration by The Rose Ensemble; ensemble-to-ensemble coaching; and exercises with overtones/matching vowels Beginners to ensemble singing are warmly welcomed; however, these classes are most successful when participants have some experience using musical notation, some sight reading skill, and the ability to match pitch.
Master Classes can also be tailored and can include:
- Demonstrations by The Rose Ensemble
- Ensemble-to-ensemble coaching
- Exercises with overtones and matching vowels
- Appreciating the historical context of the music
For more information about programs, rates and availability, contact Aaron Wulff, Coordinator of Education and Community Outreach, at: 651-225-4340, ext. 4 or aaron@RoseEnsemble.org.
Adult Workshops
Our adult workshops provide a closer look at the relationship between the music, the singer, and each other. Whether participants only sing hymns once a week at church or perform large choral works at school, we help them understand the subtleties of the music and how to apply this knowledge in their everyday singing life.
Gregorian Chant: No, you don't have to be a monk!
This workshop can be designed to meet the needs of anything from a small church choir to a room full of non-singers. Participants are taught the basics of chant, using ancient and modern musical notation, as well as how to use texts to determine the subtle rhythms of this elegant form of music. Within one hour, we'll have you chanting - in unison!
Renaissance Music: Beyond merry maids and fa-la-la
The Renaissance was a time of rebirth and the music of the time definitely demonstrates a step away from the medieval mind, but it is still deeply rooted in Gregorian chant. We help participants understand where the true melody lines are and help them with terms such as counterpoint, polyphony and cantus firmus. And of course, we do point out that very little of the music from this time mentions damsels and wood sprites - images so commonly associated with Renaissance music.
Music Research: Where did you find that music?
So you want to program your own concert. Or maybe you were a musicologist in a past life? A lot of work goes into planning and programming a musical performance more than one might expect. Even if you just want to know where it all came from, this light-hearted but informative workshop helps even the beginning singer learn how to do some simple musical research that will help your performance advance to the next level.
Ensemble Singing Workshop: It's all about blend - Advanced
A more intense version of the master class described above, this presentation enables participants to sing in a highly concentrated environment, focusing on small ensemble repertoire and dynamics. Members of the Rose Ensemble guide singers as they explore the true essence of chant, Renaissance motets, and the often-misunderstood madrigal. Participants should be comfortable singing two per voice part and should have some experience singing in Latin or Italian.
For more information about rates and available dates contact us at bookings@roseensemble.org
Amazing thanks to all of you. My students and I were BLOWN AWAY by
your visit. Much discussion followed your departure. VERY IMPRESSED and
INSPIRED!
--Steve Deitz, Vocal Music Director, Jefferson Senior High School, Alexandria,
Minnesota
Thanks for going the extra mile and coming down to appear in my classes.
We talked about the presentations and the concerts yesterday, and the students
were very appreciative and enthusiastic. It certainly gave them a deeper
appreciation for what you did in the evening performance. It was a fantastic
concert! Many people stopped me yesterday to comment on the concert and
to thank me for bringing you to campus...
--Dr. Gerry Hoekstra, St. Olaf College
"Thank you for teaching us about Medieval music. Your instruments
were really cool! Thank you for letting us ask questions and touch the instruments.
You are one of our two favorites for the whole year in CONNECT!"
--Ms. Winther's 5/6 graders, Highland Park Elementary
"Thank you for the presentation. You made the topic very accessible
to the students. And your enthusiasm is contagious!"
--Dr. Gretchen Peters, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire
"First-rate in terms of information, entertainment and enjoyment!"
--Attendee of a Gregorian chant workshop
"Your programs have significantly enhanced the musical experience
for Augsburg students in at least four of the courses I teach! Thanks for
your terrific work!"
--Merilee Klemp, DMA, Associate Professor, Augsburg College Department
of Music
The Rose Ensemble is listed with and funding is available through the following organizations:
- Young Audiences of Minnesota
- SPCO Connect
- The Heartland Arts Fund (MAAA - the Mid-America Arts Alliance)
