Alisa Rose

Alisa Rose is a Grammy-nominated violinist, composer, and improviser at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) Pre-College division. She seamlessly blends classical and American folk traditions, bringing expressive lyricism and improvisatory freedom to her performances. Her affiliations include Scroggins & Rose (duo with mandolinist Tristan Scroggins), Quartet San Francisco, and Real Vocal String Quartet.

Rose earned both her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Chamber Music from SFCM, studying with renowned violinists Camilla Wicks and Bettina Mussumeli. She has performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Coachella, and international festivals, and has appeared on The Tonight Show, PBS, and NPR.

As a performer, Rose specializes in violin performance, chamber music, contemporary improvisation, and composition that merges folk traditions with classical forms. Her artistic approach combines technical precision with spontaneous creativity, evident in her work with various ensembles and her solo compositions. Notable projects include her Embracing Roots Violin Concerto, premiered in 2022 with support from the San Francisco Arts Commission.

Her recent recordings demonstrate a trajectory from traditional classical foundations toward increasingly innovative cross-genre explorations, with her most recent work 'Speranza' (2025) representing the culmination of her journey blending contemporary roots music with chamber music virtuosity and improvisational freedom.

• GRAMMY Nomination for Quartet San Francisco Plays Brubeck
• U.S. State Department Cultural Ambassador with Real Vocal String Quartet

Rose maintains an active teaching practice, working with students from young beginners to pre-professionals to develop fluid technique, effective practice strategies, expressive sound, and confident performances. She co-founded Scroggins & Rose, which has released three acclaimed albums that push the boundaries of contemporary roots music. Her compositional work includes premieres of her Piano Trio at the Trinity Alps Festival and collaborations with jazz trumpeters Erik Jekabson and Ian Carey.

Rose's creative work spans multiple ensembles and projects, including the RossoRose Duo with pianist Amy Zanrosso and chamber collaborations with pianist Monica Chew and cellist Michael Graham. Her approach to music education emphasizes healthy technique and artistic expression across diverse musical styles.