This show is ON, in spite of the weather.
Vermonters are tough; Minnesotans are tougher!
Tickets are available at the door at 7:30 p.m.

THE ROSE ENSEMBLE
American Roots: Harmonies that Shaped a Nation
Friday, March 22, 8:00 p.m., Stowe Community Church

Founded in 1996 by Artistic Director Jordan Sramek and now in its 23rd and final performance season, The Rose Ensemble is based in Saint Paul, Minnesota and enjoys a full schedule of performing, recording, and outreach. Through virtuosic artistry and scholarly research, this group of eleven vocalists and instrumentalists produces imaginative and inspiring musical performances and educational programs that connect each individual to compelling stories of human culture and spirituality from around the world.

In this journey across centuries of folk, spiritual, and cultural traditions, audiences witness the evolution of American musical heritage. From the British Isles came ballads, hymns, fiddle tunes, and country dances that would shape new traditions in the hills of Appalachia, the dance halls of Boston, and the Shaker villages of Kentucky and New York. Four-part harmony spilled out of country churches and became the musical foundation for causes both religious and political, as anti-slavery meetings, tent revivals, and even Presidential campaigns all found power in the marriage of catchy melodies and memorable rhymes.

Meanwhile, vocal lines brewed and bubbled throughout the 19th century, giving birth to what would become Bluegrass and Old-Time Gospel music, with tunes like “I’ll Fly Away,” “Wayfaring Stranger,” and the “Sweet By and By.” The Rose Ensemble’s engaging stage presence, diverse singing styles, and impressive array of folk and classical instruments provide concertgoers with a bountiful harvest of over 300 years of American harmony - all lovingly woven together through story, song, and plenty of foot stomping!