Judy Rose

As a child, Judy A. Rose grew up listening and singing black spirituals and gospel music at a Baptist Church in West Virginia. Music was a way to transcend the troubles and challenges of growing up in a poor black community. Adopted as young child, she moved to California and her adopted family eventually relocated to Oregon. Her adopted mother taught her how to play the piano and exposed her to many musical genres. In middle school, high school, and college, valuable musical mentors provided musical leadership opportunities. Judy earned a B.S. and M.Ed in Music Education from Portland State University. She has worked for Portland Public Schools (Oregon) as a Music Teacher since 2000. Judy is an active music director, accompanist, and singer in the Vancouver, WA/Portland Metro area. She enjoys composing music, playing the piano, Native American Flute, birding, wildlife photography and spending time with her family. She and her spouse, share their Southwest Washington home and creek-side walks with Naomi, a rescued Cardigan Corgi & Chesapeake Retriever mix.

Judy received 2019 GAP Award funding to create a CD recording for her original choral spiritual “I’ve Found Me A River,” a double choir SATB work. This funding will allow her to produce a recording of “I’ve Found Me A River” for choral publishing consideration. The spiritual will be performed by a local Portland Choir or a Seattle Consortium Choir. The goal of the entire project is to produce a full-length CD of Judy’s original spirituals and arrangements depicting the Black Experience. These compositions may also be performed by choirs throughout the world.