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Rosalind-Denise  is an Award-winning Educator, Violinist, Speaker, Mother, Founder, and Executive director of The Inner Ear Youth Orchestra and TIEny Youth Orchestra. Her youth orchestra, TIE, is committed to providing at-risk youth with quality music education. In her program, students receive an instrument and up to 6 hours of instruction each week. She hopes to remove the taboo of classical arts within the urban community and provide a space where music education will unify and build up the communities around her. 

 

Rosalind moved to East St. Louis in 2017 after accepting a music teaching position at East St. Louis - Lincoln Middle School. She created and facilitated an after-school music program teaching the violin, viola, and cello. This would lead to East St Louis’ first school orchestra program in nearly 40 years. Since her arrival, she has secured several community partnerships that aid in her mission to provide youth with quality string educational experiences. She is now responsible for pioneering 2 Public school music programs and 3 community accessible programs introducing over 1000 youth to date to orchestral music.

 

A Kansas City, Kansas native, Rosalind-Denise holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Education with a concentration on violin from VanderCook College of Music. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated and currently working to obtain a Master's in Nonprofit Management. In her spare time, she enjoys walks in the park, shopping, and raising her three beautiful daughters. She also enjoys home improvement projects and dabbles in carpentry. 

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 She has been featured in many publications for her works including The Gazelle Magazine, and Belleville Democratic. 

She was named Art Educator of the Year for 2022 by the Arts & Education Council and is a 2021 recipient of the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award. She was also a recipient of the 2022 Stl Side Hustles Honors.