History of the Rose Ensemble
Photo: V. Paul Virtucio
Photo: V. Paul Virtucio
Based in Saint Paul, Minnesota and founded in 1996 by Artistic Director Jordan Sramek, The Rose Ensemble creates imaginative performances of vocal music, connecting each individual to past worlds with stories of spirituality and humanity. Each presentation brings research from the world’s manuscript libraries to new audiences, illuminating centuries of rarely performed repertoire. Called “first class” (Neuss-Grevenbroicher Zeitung), “Engaging…satisfying” (Gramophone), and “flawlessly performed and smoothly structured” (Cleveland Plain Dealer), The Rose Ensemble is the recipient of the 2005 Chorus America Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence, and first-place winner in the sacred music category at the 2007 Tolosa International Choral Competition (Spain). With seven critically acclaimed recordings and a diverse selection of concert programs, the group has thrilled audiences across the U.S. and Europe with repertoire spanning 1,000 years and over 25 languages, including new research in Hawaiian, Swedish, Mexican and American vocal traditions. The Rose Ensemble will launch two more European tours this summer, with appearances in northern Italy in June, and an extensive performance schedule in France during July and August.
Critical Acclaim
Called "The Twin Cities' most daring and imaginative vocal ensemble" by the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the musicians of The Rose Ensemble have received acclaim for their ability to sing both as an ensemble and as soloists, while director Jordan Sramek has been lauded for diverse programming and ground-breaking research. Praised for "an almost supernatural blend of voices" (Early Music America Magazine), The Rose Ensemble has produced several recordings, which receive regular international airplay and have received widespread critical praise. In 2005, the group was the recipient of the prestigious Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence.