Jane Rooks Ross

Jane Rooks Ross is the founding Director of Education for the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and developed its Marvelous Music program.  A lifelong educator, she has taught in are grade schools and the WMU’s Honors College, KVCC, Kalamazoo College, and WMU’s Osher Lifelong Learning program.  She is the author of Listener’s Guide to the Orchestra and writes grants and educational materials.  Rooks Ross with Zaide Pixley co-authored the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra: 100 Years of Great Music in honor of its centennial. Rooks Ross holds a M.M. in music education cum laude from WMU.    Rooks Ross was honored as a YWCA Woman of Achievement, Community Medal of Arts Awardee by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, and PRISM award from the International Professional Fraternity for Women in Music, Sigma Alpha Iota.  She was featured in the book Amazing Women of West Michigan by Bowman and Priest and in the Women & Lifestyles magazine.  She and her husband Barry Ross were given the Communities In School of Kalamazoo’s Diether Haenicke Promise of Excellence Award.