Rose Ensemble Educational Programs
photo V. Paul Virtucio
- 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
Special Presentations for Grades K-12
Choose from the following imaginative presentations which bring to life early music through cheerful song, storytelling and captivating imagery. In addition to learning melodies and rhythms by the ancient tradition of rote (by ear), students will discover what life and music was like for people living hundreds of years ago, while getting a close-up look at some fascinating early percussion and string instruments.
Both can be tailored to meet the needs of any age groups, as well as large and small classes or assemblies.
Music
from the Land of Three Faiths:
Discovering Ancient Harmonies Across Cultures, Borders and Religions
Program Description
Rich in research and exotic harmonies, this program helps participants discover the music of medieval Spain, where Christians, Jews and Muslims lived together in an artistically and culturally intertwined society. Featuring a diverse collection of Spanish villancicos, Galician cantigas, Sephardic laments and Arab-Andalusian songs, this presentation utilizes Middle Eastern instruments such as the riqq, dumbek and rebec.
Educational Benefits
Using the music of people living in medieval Spain, participants will be able to identify various languages, countries, and religions, as well as describe significant aspects of medieval people's lives. Through music, poetry and language, students explore the cultural, social, spiritual and political issues that affected medieval people, and discover the fascinating similarity to our own modern lives.
"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
Through musical examples and informal dialogue, The Rose Ensemble will help participants learn more about the cultural, social, spiritual and political issues affecting people in Baroque Mexico, by demonstrating fascinating linguistic variances, usage of classical and folk instruments, and by exploring the influence the colonial Spaniards continued to have on native peoples, their music and culture well into the 1700s.
Educational Benefits
- An opportunity to explore connections between the music of Spain and the New World, the composers who chose to travel this great distance, and the musical collaborations and relationships formed within the five social classes existing in Baroque Mexico.
- An opportunity to help young people understand more about the rich musical, cultural and political history of Mexico.
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
Hawaii's beautiful music revealed through its beautiful people! In this important program focusing on American History and Native American culture, students explore the evolution of Hawaiian music as ancient tradition became integrated with new influences. Rose Ensemble members use musical examples to illustrate important time periods in Hawaiian history and teach basic elements of language, instruments, and musical styles. Captivating ancient chants (oli and mele) and traditional percussion instruments are also featured, as well as fun-loving paniolo songs from the horse and cattle ranchers, one of the diverse musical forms created by Hawaii's migrant workers.
Educational Benefits
Using the music of Native Hawaiians and the American missionaries, this is an excellent opportunity to help young people understand more about the rich musical, cultural and political history of the Hawaiian Islands.
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.
"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)
