Voice of Experience: How Adrian Rosas Shapes Orchestral Education

Please introduce yourself.

I'm Adrian Rosas, Manager of Orchestral Music Programs in the Education Department. I'm originally from Pennsylvania (the Poconos), but hopped around the country for over 20 years before landing in Philadelphia in 2021.

When it comes to the arts, I am passionate about arts education — having taught music and singing at all levels for nearly 15 years. I consider myself to be an "Artrepreneur" — I created a long-standing arts nonprofit and designed several arts programs around the country; and have had a successful career as a classically trained bass-baritone, with degrees in vocal performance from Western Michigan University (BM) and The Juilliard School (MM). 

As my work email signature mentions, I am a "Girl Dad,” "Hiking Enthusiast,” and "DIY Pro.” My wife and I have two beautiful daughters, Maya and Eliana. Outdoor activities of all sorts, especially hiking, are my go-to when I want some adventure and one of my greatest passions is doing DIY house projects — everything from demolition and basic construction, to simple plumbing and electrical work, and interior design and organization.

What is your current involvement with the performing arts? 

In addition to my ongoing work with The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts, I am on the board of directors for two nonprofit arts organizations, Arts On Site NYC and The Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia, and occasionally travel for professional singing engagements around the country. 

The Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia is a member-supported organization that enriches the musical life of Philadelphia through its grants, awards, performances, and offers a variety of programs and benefits for members. Arts On Site NYC, an organization that I co-founded in 2015, cultivates creative spaces to support artists, hosts programming which encourages community collaboration, and provides artists with ongoing opportunities for artistic development.  And you can find samples of my performance work on my website.

How did you get involved with the arts? 

My earliest memory of being involved with the performing arts is joining my school choir in 3rd grade. Little did I know that singing would become the driving force in my life's path. That 3rd grade choir experience was the spark that led me towards everlasting interest in choral music, years of performing in musical theater productions, falling in love with vocal jazz, and eventually a solo career as an operatic bass-baritone.

What was the first experience that you had with The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts? 

Ironically, my first experience with our organization was my first day on the job, assisting with the 2021 Arts Launch event [now called Philadelphia Fall Arts Fest]. Though it was an overwhelming first-day-of-work experience (there were thousands of guests in attendance that day and activities happening in every corner of the building), it was the perfect opportunity to experience the incredibly diverse programming that we offer, as well as that of the Resident Companies. 

Why did you apply for a job here? 

The year I applied for my position here was a year of great change in my life. We were in the midst of the Covid pandemic, which had halted my career as a performing artist and forced a temporary closure of our rehearsal and performance spaces at Arts On Site NYC. I had also recently been married and welcomed our first daughter into the world. With the unpredictable timeline for when I'd be able to sing in front of live audiences again, and with the need to help support our growing family, my wife and I made the decision to move from New York City to Philadelphia. With that decision being made, I began searching for full-time work in our new city.  

I knew that I wanted to continue working in the arts and was passionate about supporting communities through the arts. When I saw that [Ensemble Arts Philly] had created a new Community Engagement department with a focus on developing programming geared toward underrepresented communities, I was hooked! My previous professional experience was perfectly in-line with the role for which they were hiring, and I was excited for the opportunity to help produce musical performances of varying genres. That role required that I become quickly and closely acquainted with the local community of artists and arts organizations, and I am so grateful for that experience.

Please describe your current role with us. What is your favorite part about your job? 

I am currently the Manager of Orchestral Music Programs in the Education Department. In this role, I oversee several programs and partnerships, including the Jane H. Kesson School Concert Program, the All-City Orchestra Fellowship Program, Side-by-Side Rehearsals with The Philadelphia Orchestra, partnering with the School District of Philadelphia to host their annual All-City High School and All-City Middle School Music Festivals, and partnering with The Mann Center to bring masterclasses with Philadelphia Orchestra musicians to their All-City Summer Orchestra Academy.  

My favorite aspect of my job is overseeing programs that bring tens of thousands of students into the building to experience the arts, and the opportunity to bring our work out to the communities themselves. Along with this, I have the pleasure of working with a wide variety of folks, from young students and their families, to colleagues from partnering organizations all around the region, to the world-class musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Our mission statement is to share "the transformative power of the performing arts and arts education with the widest possible audience." How does this pertain to your life?

I believe that once a person has committed their life to the arts, it is impossible for that passion (or power) to not shine through in every aspect of their lives. As an arts administrator, arts educator, and performing artist, I've had the opportunity to travel the world, interacting with people of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience, and every one of those interactions has been inherently infused with my passion for the arts. I think it is such a wonderful thing that most of my colleagues in the Education Department are performing artists themselves, because it allows us to share that "transformative power" on a daily basis, through every program we work on and every person we interact with.

What does the future look like for Adrian Rosas? 

I'm excited for the next chapters of my life. Moving to Philadelphia, having children, working my first-ever "9 to 5" job, and designing a new life around those aspects has been a challenging, but wonderful chapter. Now that the period of tremendous change has settled, I'm looking forward to deepening my new personal and professional relationships in Philly, seeking out new performance opportunities, and expanding my reach into the community through my work at The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts. There will absolutely also be some hiking and DIY projects along the way!