Beatrice Schroeder Rose

Summary

Beatrice Schroeder Rose (15 November 1922 – 12 October 2014) was an author, composer, harpist and teacher who was best known for her classic reference work, The Harp in the Orchestra: A Reference Book for Harpists, Teachers, Composers and Conductors. She was the principal harpist of Houston Symphony for 31 years.[1][2]

Life edit

Rose was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey, to Ida LeHovey and Henry William Schroeder. She performed on the harp as a student at Ridgewood High School.[3] She studied harp at Blue Ridge College in New Windsor, Maryland, and at Mannes School of Music. Her teachers included Lucile Lawrence and Carlos Salzedo.

In 1936, Rose received First Prize in the Federated Music Clubs contest. Rose debuted as a harpist at the 1939 New York World's Fair. In 1940, she performed on the Damrosch Music Appreciation Hour and in 1945, she won the New York Hour of Music award. She was an associate harpist in the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra from 1944 to 1950.

In 1952, then a resident of Bergenfield, New Jersey, she travelled to Europe for a tour of France, Italy and Switzerland that included a performance in Genoa that was attended by the United States Ambassador to Italy.[4]

She joined the Houston Symphony as principal harpist in 1953, where she remained until 1984. In 1954 she married Houston Symphony tubist William Harrison Rose.[2][5]

Rose also taught harp privately and at Rice University, Sam Houston State Teachers College, St. Agnes Academy, and the University of Houston. Her students included Betsy Brownlee, Barbara Goodrich, Leah Jorgensen, Sorana Scarlat, and Amy Waltz.[2][6]

In 1968, Rose founded the Houston Harp Ensemble, which appeared on PBS television.

Rose belonged to the American Harp Society and the National Federation of Music Clubs. She was a member of and an adjudicator for the Texas Music Educators Association.

Book edit

  • The Harp in the Orchestra: A Reference Book for Harpists, Teachers, Composers and Conductors[7]

Music edit

  • Enchanted Harp[1]
  • Jack and the Giant[8]
  • Hear Jack and the Giant by Beatrice Schroeder Rose

References edit

  1. ^ a b Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International encyclopedia of women composers (Second edition, revised and enlarged ed.). New York. ISBN 0-9617485-2-4. OCLC 16714846.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ a b c "Beatrice Rose Obituary - Houston, TX". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  3. ^ "Back For Vacation", The Morning Call, June 11, 1942. Accessed February 6, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Miss Beatrice Schroeder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Schroeder of Heights road, is home from Blue Ridge College. New Windsor, Md., where she has completed her freshman year. She continued to appear as harpist at concerts in New Windsor and vicinity during the year, just as she had all through her Ridgewood High School career."
  4. ^ "Harpist Plays To Notables While in Italy", Ridgewood Herald-News, June 19, 1952. Accessed February 6, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Beatrice Schroeder, concert harpist of Bergenfield, formerly of Ridgewood, left last month by plane for Rome, Italy, to present a recital in Genoa before starting on a vacation tour of France, Switzerland and Italy."
  5. ^ "Wedding Announcement". New York Times. 11 Apr 1954. p. 93.
  6. ^ "Sorana Scarlat". www.harpmoments.com. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  7. ^ Rose, Beatrice Schroeder (2002). The Harp in the Orchestra: A Reference Book for Harpists, Teachers, Composers and Conductors. Beatrice Schroeder Rose.
  8. ^ Jack and the Giant - Beatrice Schroeder Rose (AMEB Harp Grade One), retrieved 2023-02-06