1pm / Sunday / September 25, 2011 / Lincoln Hall, Room B20

Workshop with The Rose Ensemble

Sponsored by the Cornell choral groups.  Free and open to to the public!

Jordan Sramek, founder and artistic director of The Rose Ensemble, will give an overview of spiritual folksongs in medieval Italy and Spain (praise, folklore and music-making in the chapels and courts of Umbria, Tuscany and the kingdoms of Castile and Leon), and teach two refrains by rote (one in early Italian Florentine dialect, and one in Gallego Portuguese) to Cornell choral students and singers from the community who may wish to participate. [Free and open to the public.  For entry to Lincoln Hall before 2pm, please come to the parking lot side door]

Jordan Sramek (tenor) is Founder/Artistic Director of The Rose Ensemble (Saint Paul, Minnesota), and enjoys an active career as a performing musician, scholar, teacher, and arts entrepreneur. Jordan studied early vocal performance and harpsichord at the College of St. Scholastica and has spent time learning from such early-music experts as Benjamin Bagby, Eric Mentzel, Dom. Daniel Saulnier, Margriet Tindemans and Crawford Young. He is highly respected for his meticulous research of music rarely heard in the concert hall and has championed vocal repertoire from Renaissance Poland, Bohemia and Sweden, as well as Baroque Mexico and 19th-century Hawaii. Now in frequent demand as performer and clinician, Jordan has led musical workshops and master-classes at universities and festivals across the U.S., and with The Rose Ensemble he has developed several award-winning educational programs for young people. Jordan’s honors include a Minnesota State Arts Board Fellowship for Performing Musicians; a Jerome Foundation Travel/Study Grant; and the 2010 Chorus America Louis Botto Award for Innovative Action and Entrepreneurial Zeal.