Liz Rosa
"I wanted to be a rock star, but somewhere along the way I was given a bassoon and discovered a love for creating music."
Known for her sense of humor, creative performances, and entertaining arrangements, NYC-based musician Liz Rosa maintains a busy schedule as a multi-instrumentalist, teaching artist, music director, and composer/arranger. With an international reach, she has performed in the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands, and her compositions and arrangements have been heard across the United States and Britain. She has performed with renowned artists across various styles, including RZA, Béla Fleck, Renée Fleming, Alexander Markov, Jerry Weldon, and Nargiz Aliyarova. Liz can be heard on recordings such as the soundtrack for Star Trek Continues, Eastern Wind Symphony's 2018 album Elements, the 2024 short film Chuck and Fern, and Sam Adler’s Concerto for Guitar with Eastman Philharmonia. As an artist, she strives to bridge the worlds of classical instruments and popular music, creating a fun and engaging experience for modern audiences.
Liz continues to evolve as an artist, always seeking new ways to connect with her audience and challenge herself musically. Her dedication and ability to blend different musical styles make her a unique figure in contemporary music. She frequently performs with the New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra, Garden State Symphonic Band, and Double Entendre Music Ensemble. Liz is often featured as a jazz bassoonist and vocalist with the Dennis Alan Trio at Bread N Wine cafe in Manhattan. She has served as principal bassoonist of the Eastern Wind Symphony since 2015 and is the founding bassoonist of the wind quintet Quinception. Her versatility extends to commercial studio work in New York City, where she contributes to various recording projects. Her extensive experience has cemented her reputation as a highly adaptable and skilled musician.
In addition to her performance pursuits, Liz is dedicated to music education. She is a teaching artist for Disney Theatrical Group and New Jersey Performing Arts Center, sharing her knowledge with students and educators. She explores different topics within the performing arts landscape as the executive producer and host of the podcast “Once Upon a Band Geek,” using personal and guest anecdotes to connect the dots between different career paths in the arts.
Liz’s compositions and arrangements for winds, vocals, and percussion have been heard by national and international audiences on television and radio, including WHEC, WXXI, Abbey 104, and live at the International Double Reed Society Conference, New York Wind Orchestra, Eastern Wind Symphony, and the Mostly Modern Festival. She is active as a screen composer, writing for projects like the NY International Film Festival Award-Winning Trailer Gold Coast and the short film RTS with the New York City Short Film Club. She enjoys collaborating with comedians and has provided music for stand-up shows (Broadway Comedy Club) and Sketch Comedy (Better on Paper, Hey Roommate! Comedy). Her arrangement of the Theme Song from Late Night with Seth Meyers was featured on NBC's Late Night in 2014.
Liz earned her MA in Music and Music Education at Teachers College, Columbia University in 2022 and her Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance and Music Education at the Eastman School of Music (ESM) in 2017. When not immersed in music, Liz enjoys late-night television, exploring NYC coffee shops, and indulging in gourmet cheese. Her professional affiliations include the American Federation of Musicians (Local 802), National Association for Music Education, American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), and the International Double Reed Society.