Michael Rosen
Director, Division of Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion Professor of Percussion On leave fall semester 2008
"In my teaching I stress the development of
strong technique coupled with careful musicianship
through the study of both solo literature and orchestral
repertoire. I think it is essential that students perform
a wide range of musical styles from Early Music through
the Romantic, to early Modern, to the most contemporary
music such as that written by Berio, Cage, Boulez, Crumb
and Schwantner.
Percussion studies at Oberlin are both intense and
stimulating. My percussion studio is small, with two to
four percussionists in each class, giving us a total of 9
to 12 majors at any one time. This number allows me to
give each of my students a great deal of individual
attention. Oberlin has no graduate school, a fact which
allows me to direct all my attention to the undergrads. I
teach all lessons and all other instruction such as
history and theory, is led by experienced faculty
members, not graduate assistants."
Education:
Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Temple University;
Masters Degree in Performance from University of
Illinois
Professional Experience:
Principle Percussionist with the Milwaukee Symphony from
1966-1972; Performances with the Cleveland Orchestra, the
Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, the Metropolitan Opera
Orchestra, the Cleveland Chamber Orchestra, Da Camera
<usic Society of Houston and the Grand Teton Music
Festival Orchestra. He has worked under the baton of Zubin
Mehta, Riccardo Chailly, Pierre Boulez, Lorin Mazel, Leonard
Slatkin, Lukas Foss, Carlos Chavez and Pablo Casals. He has
worked directly with, Luciano Berio, John Cage, Salvatore
Martirano, Herbert Brün, George Crumb, Lukas Foss and
Pierre Boulez.
Other Activities:
Associate Editor of Percussive Notes Magazine and also
maintains a continuing column entited "Terms Used in
Percussion." Panelist for the National Endowment for the
Arts in 1988. Rosen has premiered many solo marimba
compositions and percussion ensemble compositions with the
award winning Oberlin Percussion Group. He performed the
American Premieres of Pleides and Idmen by Iannis Xenakis.
He is know as the marimbist who introduced the marimba music
of Akira Miyoshi, Maki Ishii and Minoru Miki to the US. Mr
Rosen has recorded with the Bayerische Rundfunk, Opus One,
Lumina, Albany and CRI labels.
Background:
Born in Philadelphia where he studied with Charles Owen. He
has also studied with Fred Hinger, Cloyd Duff and Jack
MacKenzie.
Clinics and Performances:
Performed concerts and clinics in Canada, Germany, Holland,
France, Finland, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Hong Kong as well as
all throughout the US. In 1989, visiting teacher at the
Beijing Conservatory in China. In 1978, visiting teacher at
the Sweelinck Conservatory in Holland. In 1974, 1981 and in
1990 he appeared as a marimba specialist at the Percussive
Arts Society Convention. In 1994 and 1997, offered a marimba
course at the Arturo Toscanni Foundation in Parma, Italy. He
is a Zildjian clinician.
Personal:
Mr. Rosen is an avid cook and student of cuisines of the
world. When not in the kitchen making bread or the latest
Italian pasta dish, he is on the tennis courts trying to
improve his serve. Married to Marlene Ralis Rosen who
teaches voice at Oberlin, they often perform together. The
couple has a Bernese Mountain Dog named Bernie with whom
they take long walks in the woods.