Rose is a classically trained pianist who began playing at the age of six. Her teachers were the Sisters of St Joseph in Leeton and Goulburn, whom she considered to be some of the finest teachers in the country.
She spent her early primary school years gaining valuable experience by accompanying school choirs, vocalists, instrumentalists at concerts, competitions and eisteddfods. Rose began her musical theatre journey with the Leeton Musical and Dramatic Society in the early 60’s when her first show was South Pacific.
In 1968, attaining her A Mus A diploma in piano, Rose began her teaching career, which lasted for 39 fulfilling and rewarding years. She has always taken great delight in the achievements of her piano students, some of whom have gone on to study at the Sydney Conservatorium.
Moving to Canberra in 1974, she became Tempo Theatre’s Musical Director and she filled this role for the next 13 years, directing the music for Bye, Bye Birdie, Camelot, Canterbury Tales, Little Miss Sunshine, Man of La Mancha, and Little Shop of Horrors, to name a few.
In 2002, Rose was invited by SUPA Productions to direct the music for Barnum, for which she won the Canberra Area Theatre Award for Best Musical Director. Two years later, she was delighted to receive her second CAT Award for Best Musical Director for Titanic – the Musical, again for SUPA Productions.
Apart from working with Tempo and SUPA Productions, Rose has worked with Alpha Theatre, Phoenix Players, Queanbeyan Players, Southern Cross Club Players and Music for Everyone.
2007 is Rose’s first year as a CAT Award judge and she’s greatly looking forward to seeing all the talent that abounds in the Canberra area.