Artist Spotlight: Judy A. Rose
Published: December 3, 2019
Categories: Artists | Fall Campaign | Featured
Today you have helped us raise over $2,500 in celebration of our GAP awards – and there’s still time left! We only have $500 left to reach our goal! We’ve had so much fun celebrating with you and are excited to end Giving Tuesday 2019 on a high note. We’d also like to thank our amazing Board of Directors, who are generously stretching donations of any amount for Giving Tuesday!
As you know, throughout the day, we’re highlighting three recent GAP recipients and how the GAP award has amplified their work. In our previous emails, we spoke with Troy Osaki, an emerging literary artist, and Joe Hedges, a visual artist – read their interviews here. Last, but certainly not least, is Judy A. Rose, a performing artist from Clark County.
“The GAP award is making it possible for the West Linn High School Symphonic Choir, (West Linn, OR) under the direction of Aubrey Patterson, to record my original spiritual titled, “I’ve Found Me A River” for publication consideration. The WLHS Symphonic Choir will be the first high school choir to perform and the first choir to professionally record “I’ve Found Me A River“.
The GAP funding is beneficial at this point in my career as it allows me to have this spiritual recorded for publication consideration which might not have otherwise happened. Giving Tuesday is important to our continued ability to support artists, and we know there are many organizations in Washington worthy of support from donors. Your financial gifts will continue to make a difference to artists and people everywhere. Thank you for giving!”
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 a 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.
