From Grand Rapids, Michigan, Rose Gifford is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma (Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy) and Western Michigan University (Bachelor of Music in Keyboard Performance). She has studied piano pedagogy with Dr. Jane Magrath and Dr. Barbara Fast, and piano performance with Dr. Jeongwon Ham, Dr. Ed Gates, and Dr. Silvia Roederer. She has been an active member of the Music Teacher’s National Association since she was in undergrad, serving in various leadership positions.
During her time at the University of Oklahoma, Rose was awarded the Martha M. Boucher Piano Scholarship, as well as the Alice and Albert Kirkpatrick Scholarship and the Genevieve Vliet Piano Scholarship. She served on the board of the MTNA Collegiate Chapter during the 2016-17 school year, during which time it won the Collegiate Chapter of the Year Award.
Rose currently works as Adjunct Professor of Music at Grand Rapids Community College where she teaches studio classes, group piano lessons, applied lessons, and piano pedagogy. She has collaborated with the choirs at GRCC for several performances. She also holds an active private piano studio, and participates in various gig work throughout the West Michigan area. In the past, Rose taught group piano classes while she was serving as Visiting Assistant Professor of Keyboard at the Crane School of Music at SUNY-Potsdam.
Rose has presented at the GP3 Conference, the MTNA National Conference, and has participated in the Interharmony International Music Festival in Arcidosso, Italy, as well as the Classical Music Festival in Eisenstadt, Austria.
