Stephen Rose

Violin Soloist

Stephen Rose enjoys a varied career as performer and teacher, appearing annually in concerts and masterclasses across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia

Rose is Principal Second Violin of The Cleveland Orchestra, a position he has held since 2001. He joined the Orchestra in 1997 as a member of the first violin section and made his solo debut with the Orchestra in 2011. He again appeared as a soloist with the Orchestra in 2013 and 2018. From 1992-96, Rose was the first violinist of the Everest Quartet, prizewinners at the Banff International String Quartet Competition and the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.

A dedicated teacher, Rose has been a member of the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music for over two decades, serving for many of these years as Head of the violin department. He maintains a studio, directs the orchestral violin repertoire classes, and coaches chamber music at CIM. A frequent presenter of masterclasses at universities and conservatories, he also serves as a guest teaching artist at the New World Symphony and National Orchestral Institute. Rose’s students hold positions in numerous orchestras across the United States.

Chamber music plays a prominent role in Rose’s musical life. He regularly appears at festivals around the world, including the Seattle Chamber Music Festival, Mimir Chamber Music Festival (US and Australia), Colorado College Music Festival, Mainly Mozart Festival, Strings Music Festival, and Pacific Music Festival in Japan.

A native of Louisiana, Stephen Rose’s prominent teachers include Sally O’Reilly, David Cerone, David Updegraff, and William Preucil. In 1994, Rose received a Master of Music degree and Performers’ Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, preceded by a Bachelor of Music degree in 1992 from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He was honored with the Alumni Achievement Award from CIM in 2005.